Uttarakhand Election 2022 highlights: Over 62% polling recorded

According to Election Commission, Haridwar reported the highest percentage of voter turnout with 67.58 per cent in Uttarakhand followed by Uttarkashi (65.55 per cent) and Udham Singh Nagar (65.13 per cent) till 5 pm. 

By 5 pm, the Almora district of Uttarakhand registered 50.65 per cent, Bageshwar 57.83 per cent, Chamoli 59.28 per cent, Champawat 59.97 per cent, Dehradun 52.93 per cent, Haridwar 67.58 per cent, Nainital 63.12 per cent, Pauri Garhwal 51.93 per cent, Pithoragarh 57.49 per cent, Rudraprayag 60.36 per cent, Tehri Garhwal 52.66 per cent, Udham Singh Nagar 65.14 per cent and Uttarkashi 65.55 per cent.

The voting percentage in Uttarakhand was 49.24% till 3 pm on Monday.

In Uttarakhand, Almora district registered 43.17 per cent, Bageshwar 46.64 per cent, Chamoli 48.11 per cent, Champawat 47.64 per cent, Dehradun 45.56 per cent, Haridwar 54.40 per cent, Nainital 52.36 per cent, Pauri Garhwal 43.94 per cent, Pithoragarh 45.50 per cent, Rudraprayag 50.23 per cent, Tehri Garhwal 44.74 per cent, Udham Singh Nagar 53.30 per cent and Uttarkashi district registered 56.24 per cent voting till 3 p.m.

Uttarakhand is holding single phase polling for all its 70 assembly seats. A total of 82,66,644 voters will decide the fate of 632 candidates. There are 11,697 booths across the states, of which 776 are critical and 1,050 vulnerable booths.

Uttarkashi reported the highest percentage of voter turnout at 40.12 per cent followed by Haridwar 38.83 per cent and Nainital 37.41 per cent. Meanwhile, Almora reported 30.37 per cent, Bageshwar 32.55 per cent, Chamoli 33.82 per cent, Champawat 34.66 per cent, Dehradun 34.45 per cent, Pauri Garhwal 31.59 per cent, Pithoragarh 29.68 per cent, Rudraprayag 34.82 per cent, Tehri Garhwal 32.59 per cent, and Udham Singh Nagar reported 37.17 per cent.

Over 35 per cent polling was recorded till 1 pm on Monday in Uttarakhand where voting is underway in 70 assembly seats spread over 13 districts, officials said here. Long queues of voters were seen outside polling booths as polling began at 8 am amid strict adherence to Covid protocol. Voters were allowed to cast their votes only after wearing gloves.

Voter turnout till 1 pm |#GoaElections2022 - 44.63%
Phase 2 of #UttarPradeshElections - 39.07%#UttarakhandElections2022 - 35.21% pic.twitter.com/x3ETCPMnuH

— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2022

For the first time 101 all women 'Sakhi' polling booths run by women have been set up in the state to encourage women's participation in the polling process. Similarly, six polling booths to be manned by differently abled persons have also been set up, she said.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, former chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, Aam Aadmi Party's chief ministerial candidate Col (retd) Ajay Kothiyal, Leader of Opposition in the fourth assembly Pritam Singh, Yoga Guru Ramdev, and Niranjani Akhara Mahamandaleshwar Kailashanand Brahmachari were among the first to cast their votes.

Long queues of voters were seen outside polling booths as polling began on Monday at 8 am to the 70 assembly seats spread over 13 districts of Uttarakhand. By 11 am 18.97 per cent polling was recorded in the state, election commission officials said. 

Voter turnout till 11 am |#GoaElections2022 - 26.63%#UttarPradeshElections - 23.03%#UttarakhandElections2022 - 18.97% pic.twitter.com/KhOwqYofO5

— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2022

Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Satpal Maharaj casts his vote for #UttarakhandElections2022 in Chaubattakhal assembly constituency, Pauri Garhwal pic.twitter.com/J0WnUyNbzc

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) February 14, 2022

#UttarakhandElections2022 | Senior citizen voters exercise their franchise in Uttarkashi as the State votes in Assembly elections today pic.twitter.com/UNjMgrfT2U

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) February 14, 2022

Colonel Ajay Kothiyal (retd), AAP CM candidate for #UttarakhandElections2022 casts his vote at a polling booth in Uttarkashi. pic.twitter.com/loMJolMOV2

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) February 14, 2022

Former Union Education Minister & Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, casts his vote for #UttarakhandElections2022 in Dehradun pic.twitter.com/XAnXepqXE4

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) February 14, 2022

Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Satpal Maharaj casts his vote for #UttarakhandElections2022 in Chaubattakhal assembly constituency, Pauri Garhwal pic.twitter.com/J0WnUyNbzc

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) February 14, 2022

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urges people to vote 

 Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) February 14, 2022

Harish Rawat offers prayer as polling continues in Uttarakhand

#ओम_नमः_शिवाय pic.twitter.com/yEfFee8SbL

— Harish Rawat (@harishrawatcmuk) February 14, 2022

"I'd like to appeal to everyone to use their voting rights; voting turnout should be 100%. The elections are being held in a proper, unbiased manner," said Governor of Uttarakhand, Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd), after casting his vote.

I'd like to appeal to everyone to use their voting rights; voting turnout should be 100%. The elections are being held in a proper, unbiased manner: Governor of Uttarakhand, Lt Gen Gurmit Singh (Retd), after casting his vote for #UttarakhandElection2022 pic.twitter.com/X1nGKMOnRl

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) February 14, 2022

Voter turnout till 9 am |#GoaElections2022 - 11.04%#UttarPradeshElections - 9.45%#UttarakhandElections2022 - 5.15% pic.twitter.com/1SQldgxc1I

— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2022

Dehradun | Law & order is very peaceful. Forces are deployed everywhere as per plan. All polling parties had reached safely last night itself. Weather forecast for today is fine, so I hope it'll be peaceful: Uttarakhand Chief Electoral Officer Soujanya#UttarakhandElections2022 pic.twitter.com/aEucqrkKri

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) February 14, 2022

"All our schemes have provided a shield for the people of Uttarakhand; the public knows very well who can work for the development of the state. I'm sure that the Uttarakhand public will bring BJP on 60+ seats," says CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, in Khatima. 

Uttarakhand CM and BJP candidate from Khatima, Pushkar Singh Dhami casts his vote at a polling booth in the constituency, for #UttarakhandElections2022

His mother and wife also cast their votes. pic.twitter.com/aR2aRU8VsV

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) February 14, 2022

With the commencement of polling in Uttarakhand, Union Home Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Amit Shah on Monday urged people to vote in large numbers. Referring to the BJP, Shah also stated that only a stable, decisive and corruption-free government can ensure the development of the hilly state.

Taking to Twitter, the Home Minister said, "Only a government free from corruption and appeasement can take forward the development, pride and honor of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. Therefore, I appeal to all the voters of Uttarakhand that by voting, you should become a partner in the development and progress of the state. Voting first, then refreshments."

एक भ्रष्टाचार और तुष्टिकरण से मुक्त सरकार ही देवभूमि उत्तराखंड के विकास, गौरव और सम्मान को आगे ले जा सकती है।

इसलिए मैं उत्तराखंड के सभी मतदाताओं से अपील करता हूँ कि आप मतदान करके प्रदेश के विकास और प्रगति में सहभागी बने।

पहले मतदान, फिर जलपान।

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) February 14, 2022

The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is seeking to retain power in the hill state while Congress is hoping for a comeback. Both the Congress and the BJP have battled political instability in the state in the last two decades after it was carved out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000 during former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee`s tenure.

Important BJP faces whose fate is to be decided in these polls are Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, his cabinet colleagues Satpal Maharaj, Subodh Uniyal, Arvind Pandey, Dhan Singh Rawat and Rekha Arya besides state party president Madan Kaushik.

Prominent faces from the Congress in the fray are former chief minister Harish Rawat, former minister Yashpal Arya, state party president Ganesh Godiyal and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Pritam Singh.

As many as 36095 police, central paramilitary and PAC personnel have been deployed on poll duty across the state.

A public holiday has been declared by the administration for the single-day polling in the state.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged voters to vote in record numbers in Goa, Uttarakhand and parts of Uttar Pradesh. 

Polling will be held across Uttarakhand, Goa and in parts of Uttar Pradesh. I call upon all those whose are eligible to vote today to do so in record numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 14, 2022

Voting for #UttarakhandElections2022 begins. pic.twitter.com/SfcC8QamVS

— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2022

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Voting for #GoaElections and the second phase of #UttarPradeshElections begins; Voting in #Uttarakhand to begin at 8 am

55 Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh and 40 in Goa going to polls today pic.twitter.com/1u6L26iILm

— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2022

Preparations underway ahead of voting for the #UttarakhandElections2022; Visuals from Khalsa National Balika Inter College, Haldwani

Voting for the Uttarakhand Assembly elections will start at 8 am. pic.twitter.com/qkCMqgwNX0

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) February 14, 2022

Both the Congress and the BJP have battled political instability in the state in the last two decades after it was carved out of Uttar Pradesh. The BJP`s task is a twin -- beat the anti-incumbency and also the electoral trend of the incumbent government voted out in the state. Uttarakhand, incidentally, has seen 11 Chief Ministers in the last two decades. 

Six polling booths to be manned by persons with disabilities have also been set up. Polling will begin at 8 am and conclude at 6 pm.

There are a total of 81,72,173 voters in the state and 11,697 polling booths spread over 8,624 locations. For the first time 101 all-women polling booths named 'Sakhi' polling booths have been set up in the state.

The campaign in the state came to an end on Saturday evening. It will be the fifth assembly election to be held in Uttarakhand after its creation in 2000.

According to past trends, the main contest in the hilly state polls has always been between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but however, this year Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is likely to dent the vote share. 

The voting for the Uttarakhand Assembly Elections 2022 will take place in a single phase on Monday (February 14). The votes will be counted on March 10. As many as 632 candidates are in the fray for 70 seats spread across 13 districts. A total of 81 lakh eligible voters are expected to cast their votes.