11 per cent polling till 10 am in Sikkim

Gangtok, Apr 11: An estimated 11 per cent voters exercised their franchise in the first three hours of polling in 32 legislative assembly constituencies and the loan Lok Sabha constituency in Sikkim. Polling for the lone Lok Sabha seat and the Sikkim assembly is being held simultaneously here. There has been no report of any untoward incident till 10 am, 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.