As the three-week hectic campaign came to an end today for the June 23 Mandi Lok Sabha bye-election, the Election Commission deferred polling in Kinnaur Assembly segment to June 27 due to heavy rains.
Counting of votes for the polls will now be held on June 30, instead of June 27. Polling in the remaining 16 Assembly segments of Mandi parliamentary constituency, including the tribal Lahaul and Spiti and Bharmaur constituency will be held as scheduled on June 23, said chief electoral officer Narinder Chauhan.
"Heavy rains have completely paralysed normal life in Kinnaur district which was cut off from rest of the state due to massive landslides and breaches in Hindustan-Tibet National Highway at numerous places.
"Polling parties and material have not reached to 105 out of 118 polling booths and it is not possible to hold polling in these areas", Chief Secretary S Roy said.
Efforts would be made to send polling parties and election material as early a possible to ensure that polling in the rain-hit district was held before polling on June 27 but much would depend on weather conditions. Out of total 11,24,770 voters of Mandi constituency, 52,361 voters are in the tribal Kinnaur assembly segment.
Congress candidate Pratibha Singh, wife of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, is pitted against former BJP minister Jai Ram Thakur in a five cornered contest, with three independent candidates in the fray.
Heavy rains and colossal loss of property and crops, besides loss of 14 human lives in landslides in Kinnaur district have cast a shadow on the campaigning.
Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Prem Kumar Dhumal both spearheaded the campaign of their respective parties in the constituency.
