Shimla, Oct 21 (IANS): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Monday appealed to the voters to exercise their franchise and inspire others too to cast votes.

"Today is the by-election for Dharamsala and Pachhad Assembly seats. I urge the voters there to actively participate in this festival of democracy, vote themselves and inspire others to vote," the Chief Minister tweeted.

"I am confident that your vote will play an important role in the progress of the state."

The by-elections to Dharamsala and Pachhad seats were necessitated as Kishan Kapoor and Suresh Kashyap resigned their Assembly seats after they got elected to the Lok Sabha this year.

Polling for by-elections to two Assembly seats in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled Himachal Pradesh began on Monday morning.

Electors in the four constituencies could be seen reaching polling stations even before voting started at 7 a.m.

The main contest is between the Congress and the BJP.