After polling was deferred at polling booth of Shalkhar village of Kinnaur district due to protest by the villagers against the tardy rescue and relief operations, Election Commission of India (ECI) on Friday ordered re-polling on Saturday.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Narinder Chauhan, said that re-polling at Shalkhar polling station of Kinnaur assembly segment of Mandi parliamentary constituency would now be held on June 29.
He said that the polling was adjourned due to disturbance on June 27. Chauhan added that a new Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) would be used for taking adjourned poll and EVM used at the time of original poll held on June 27 had been sealed and kept secured separately.
Protesters of Shalkhar village boycotted the elections on Thursday when second phase of Mandi parliamentary bye-poll was held alleging State Government apathy in airlifting of patients who needed severe attention.
Efforts were made by district administration officials and police to pacify the agitating villagers but they refused to relent and sensing the situation going violent, polling was deferred by the election commission of India.
Villagers were also demanding compensation for their loss of property and crop and said that no Government officials had come to even see or meet the villagers. Government officials said that although after a meeting of senior district administration officials, villagers were pacified. Kinnaur on Thursday witnessed 54 percent polling while rest of Mandi parliamentary constituency had witnessed nearly 52 polling on June 23. Huge loss of life and property had taken place in Kinnaur after incessant rain and flash floods hit the district.