SHIMLA: The fate of some of the biggest political leaders in Himachal Pradesh will be sealed in electronic voting machines by Thursday evening as more than 50 lakh people will cast their votes for 68-member legislative assembly.
The election results, however, will be announced 40 days later on December 18 along with those of the Gujarat polls, to be held next month.
This election is crucial for chief minister
Virbhadra Singh, 83, who will be eyeing his record eighth election to Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly and seventh stint as chief minister of the state. Singh has already announced that this was going to be his last election and is set to hand over the baton to his son Vikramditya who his contesting his debut election from his father's seat of Shimla (rural) seat. Virbhadra is contesting this election from Arki.
Apart from a strong anti-incumbency this time, the chief minister has also faced the onslaught of corruption charges against him. Virbhadra, however, has led a determined campaign against the
BJP which fielded almost all its top national leaders at rallies including PM Modi, party chief Amit Shah, UP CM Yogi Aditya Nath and several union leaders.