Himachal Pradesh Assembly election 2017: Here are some interesting facts

New Delhi (November 9) (ABP LIVE): Polling in the high stake Himachal Pradesh Assembly election began on Thursday at 8:00 am and the fate 337 candidates will be decided by 5:00 when the voting will end. The highly fueled campaign for Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections marked by bitter exchanges between the two contenders for power--the state's ruling Congress and main opposition BJP--ended on Tuesday. Interesting facts about Himachal Pradesh Assembly election 2017

• A total of 50,25,941 voters are eligible to cast their vote
• 7,525 polling booths have been set up in the state
• 37,605 polling personnel have been deputed for poll duty
• 17,850 personnel of police and Home Guards and 65 companies of central paramilitary force have been deployed
• Ruling Congress led by the chief minister and the BJP led with former chief minister Dhumal are contesting on all 68 seats
• BSP is contesting on 42 seats
• CPI(M) 14, Swabhiman Party and Lok Gathbandhan Party six each and the CPI-3
• The 12-days high-voltage campaign saw over 450 rallies by star campaigners of the BJP and the Congress
• There is straight contest only in one constituency (Jhanduta)
• The maximum number of 12 candidates is in fray in Dharamsala
• BJP has fielded four Congressmen including former minister Anil Sharma
• BJP has also given ticket to on Independent from Chopal
• Congress had fielded two independents from Paonta Sahib and Kangra
• Both CM Virbhadra Singh and Dhumal have shifted their constituencies and are contesting from Arki and Sujanpur, respectively.