Eighteen out of 90 constituencies in Chhattisgarh which went to polls on Monday under phase one of the Assembly elections, recorded a turnout of 70 per cent voters till 4.30 pm, the Election Commission said.
Although the Maoist-infested parts of the state witnessed a peaceful election, five Naxals were killed and five jawans sustained injuries in a gun battle that took place in Bijapur at around 12.30pm. An improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated in Dantewada district by Naxals during the wee hours of the day and another explosive was recovered in the Sukma district.
Voting at highly sensitive seats( Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, Konta, Mohla-Manpur, Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Keshkal and Kondagaon), which began at 7 am, ended at 3pm and polling continued in Khairagarh, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Khujji, Bastar, Jagdalpur and Chitrakot, till 5 pm.
The remaining 72 seats of Chhattisgarh assembly will go to vote on November 20 as part of a multi-phased voting across five states that also include neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram.
While the state has traditionally seen a direct fight between the BJP and the Congress, a third force has emerged this time in the form of an alliance between former Congress CM Ajit Jogi's own party Janata Congress Chhattisgarh and Dalit leader Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party.
Two commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) jawan injured in an encounter that broke out between security forces & Naxals in Bijapur's Pamed area at around 12:20 pm today. Firing underway (ANI)
More details awaited
Prime Minister Narendra Modi kick-started the campaign for the second phase of Assembly election in Chhattisgarh on Monday. While addressing a poll rally in Bilaspur, he said,"BJP has blessings of people, Chhattisgarh has given the party several oppertunities to serve the state". He urged people to set a new voting record.
Bilaspur goes to polls on November 20.
16.24 per cent overall voter turnout recorded till 11 am in the first phase of elections in 18 constituencies.
The ruling BJP in Chhattisgarh has tailored its campaign around ‘Raman par vishwas, Kamal sang vikas’ — its slogan in the poll-bound state. Despite having a weak political team at his disposal, Singh’s image continues to tower above all else and a stable government on his watch has ensured the party is on a strong footing in its bid to win a fresh mandate.
In around a dozen polling stations the voting was interrupted owing to technical glitches in the electronic voting machines (EVMs). During the first couple of hours, the voting percentage was around 15 per cent in various seats.
The EVM snag was reported in Kanker, Rajnandgaon, Jagdalpur, Bhanupratapur and polling was delayed by an hour in Bijapur, Narayanpur and south Bastar.
10.7% voter turnout recorded till 10 am in the first phase of elections in 18 constituencies. (ANI)
Ban on liquor, interest-free loans, almost free rice and a 'Naxal-free' state -- political parties have tried every trick in the book to outdo each other with their poll promises as the state goes to polls with Maoist-affected areas of Chhattisgarh for a multi-phased poll season across five states.
While Chhattisgarh has traditionally seen a direct fight between the BJP and the Congress, a third force has emerged this time in the form of an alliance between former Congress chief minister Ajit Jogi's own party Janata Congress Chhattisgarh and Dalit leader Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party.
Since the creation of the state on November 1, 2000, the BJP under the leadership of Raman Singh has ruled it, barring the first three years, when the Congress led by Ajit Jogi ruled the state. Thereafter, factionalism in the Congress in the state couldn’t withstand the clean image and settled leadership of incumbent chief minister Raman Singh, whose populist ‘rice politics’ just before the 2008 Assembly election returned the BJP to power for another term.
Nearly 900 polling personnel have been air-dropped from helicopters so that they can reach safely. Over 16,500 polling personnel went by-road. I think all will be in a position to deliver peaceful elections: Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat. (ANI)
The realisation that having decision-making powers in their hands is the only way to check exploitation at the hands of politicians and Maoists has made tribal groups in some of the villages in Bastar to join the poll fray. They have decided to join hands and contest elections to send their representative to the Assembly this time.
The party may not win due to the strong presence of the BJP and the Congress, but is expected to give a tough fight to the candidates of both the national parties. In 2013, it was the shift of Bastar voters to the Congress that had given a scare to the BJP. Of the 12 seats in the region, Congress won 8 while the BJP, which had won 11 seats in 2008, was reduced to 4.
Women voters outnumber men in 15 districts and in 33 Assembly seats of Chhattisgarh. But, their representation during the previous three elections remained a dismal 9 to 13 per cent — a far cry from the 33 per cent quota in ticket allocation that is often peddled by political parties.
1-2 kilograms of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blasted by naxals near Tumakpal camp in Katekalyan block. (ANI)
A total of 650 companies (roughly around 65,000 security personnel), including CRPF, BSF, ITBP and other state forces, have been sent by the Centre for poll duty. These units are apart from the paramilitary personnel and 200 companies of state forces already engaged in the anti- Maoist operations in Chhattisgarh.
Polling in 13 constituencies, where there is substantial Maoist presence, will be from 7 AM to 3 PM. Polling in five constituencies will be from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Amidst boycott call by the rebels, 18 Assembly constituencies of 90 is going for the first phase of polls in Naxal-affected Chhattisgarh.
Five Naxals killed, three more personnel of Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) were injured in the encounter that broke out between security forces & Naxals in Bijapur's Pamed area today. All the CoBRA personnel are out danger. (ANI)
47.18 per cent voter turnout recorded till 3 pm in the first phase of Assembly elections.
After the Nilwaya naxal attack, the challenges have gone up. Naxals had threatened villagers against voting. We assured the villagers of a secure environment, put in place a three level security so that people can vote without fear: CRPF official
25.15 per cent voter turnout recorded till 1 pm in the first phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections.
According to the Bijapur police a team of Cobra were on out on area domination when the Maoists opened fire on the troopers. The attack was retaliated by the forces. “In an exchange of fire one assistant sub-inspector and a constable sustained injuries and the efforts are on to evacuate them to safety. The forces are still inside the forest”, the police said.