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39.3 per cent polling till 3 pm in Sikkim

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Press Trust of India Gangtok

Around 39.3 per cent voters exercised their franchise till 3 pm in 32 legislative assembly constituencies and the lone Lok Sabha seat in Sikkim on Thursday.

Polling for the lone Lok Sabha seat and the Sikkim assembly is being held simultaneously.

Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling exercised his franchise at Namchi New Secondary School in South Sikkim's Namchi-Singhiyhang assembly seat.

There has been no report of any untoward incident till 3 pm, the office of the chief electoral officer (CEO) in the state said.

Polling is being held in 567 polling stations spread across four districts in Sikkim.

As many as 39 of 567 polling stations are being manned by all-women personnel.

 

A total of 4,32,306 voters comprising 2,20,305 males and 2,12,001 females will exercise their franchise on Thursday and 30,480 voters will cast their votes for the first time.

Special arrangements have been made at the polling stations to enable people with disabilities (PWD) to exercise their franchise.

Around 2,042 voters have been registered as the people with disabilities (PWD).

A total of 150 candidates are in fray for the 32 assembly seats, while 11 candidates are contesting for the lone Lok Sabha seat in the state.

Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, who is seeking a record eighth successive term as an MLA, is contesting from two assembly seats - Poklok-Kamrang and Namchi-Singhithang.

Former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia, the working president of the Hamro Sikkim party (HSP) has entered into fray from two assembly seats as well, including the Gangtok assembly constituency, reserved for the indigenous Bhutia-Lepcha communities.

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First Published: Apr 11 2019 | 5:45 PM IST

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