The vote counting trends of the Election Commission of India show that the Bharatiya Janata Party's rebels are leading in their respective constituencies as Independent candidates.
Earlier on November 13, the Election Commission of India prohibited the conduct of any exit poll and publishing the result of exit polls from November 12 to December 5, 2022.
Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Aditya Negi told ANI that the police and paramilitary forces have been deployed as part of a three-tier security system ahead of the counting day.
The chief poll officer of Himachal further said, "While the number of voters increased by 5.37 lakh, the number of votes polled increased by 4.33 lakh in this year's Assembly elections."
Congress sources said internal surveys indicate that the party is likely to get a majority in Himachal polls leading to increasing the number of contenders for the chief minister's post.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jairam Thakur on Wednesday said that many big leaders of Congress are going to get defeated in this poll and it is certain that Bharatiya Janata Party will form the government again.
"Himachal will vote for OPS (old pension scheme). Himachal will vote for employment. Himachal will vote for 'Har Ghar Laxmi'. Come, vote in large numbers, and make your valuable contribution for the progress and prosperous future of Himachal," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
From the death of the country's oldest voter to how polling personnel and equipment are mobilised uphill, braving rough terrain and, often, unforgiving weather, here's a look at stories from the poll-bound state that courted headlines ahead of the polling for 68 Assembly constituencies on