chattisgarh-elections

Updated: Nov 12, 2018 20:00 IST

Chhattisgarh recorded 70% turnout as polls ended for 18 seats spread over eight districts on Monday, in the first phase of the assembly election, while at least six Maoists were reportedly killed in two encounters with security personnel in Bijapur and Sukma districts.

“Voting has ended, turnout is 70% till now. Figures will be updated later,” senior deputy election commissioner Umesh Sinha said at a press conference in New Delhi, reported ANI.

EC official Sudeep Jain meanwhile clarified that only 1 % of the EVMs, 1.9 % VVPATs were changed after they malfunctioned.

According to figures available so far, the highest turnout of 72% was recorded in Khuiji constituency while the lowest was 49% in Dantewada. Kondagaon recorded 61.47%, Keshkal 63.51%, Kanker 62%, Bastar 58%, Khairagarh 70.14% and Dongargarh and Dongargaon saw 71% each.

At least four Maoists were reportedly killed and two CRPF personnel suffered bullet wounds as a gun battle broke out when the troopers were on foot patrol in a forested area near Bijapur’s Majiguda village.

“Four-five Naxals are reported to be dead but their bodies could not be collected due to continuous exchange of fire,” special director general of police, anti-Naxal operations, DM Awasthi, said.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were attacked around 12.20 p.m. when they were on an “area domination” operation in a dense forest near Majiguda village.

The troopers were from the CRPF’s 204 Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) team - a specialized unit proficient in guerrilla tactics and jungle warfare.

Two Maoists were killed in an encounter with District Reserve Guard (DRG) in Sukma district.

“The encounter took place at 5.30 pm when DRG security parties were coming back from Chitolnar after giving cover to polling parties,” said Awasthi.

Earlier, the Maoists triggered a blast through an improvised explosive device in Nayanar village when troops of the 195 Battalion of the CRPF were approaching a polling booth. No injury to the personnel was reported.

Another IED device was detected and defused on the road leading to Dwarapara polling booth, under Bairamgarh police station in Bijapur.

Elsewhere in the state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his campaign rally in Bilaspur, launched a scathing attack on Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi, saying the party’s “politics begins and ends with one family” and it was disconnected from the people.

Modi also made a strong pitch for development, saying the pace of development under the Congress regime in the state was “far slower” than the one under the BJP-led government. Bilaspur goes to polls on November 20.

For the 18 constituencies going polls today, voting began for 10 at 7 am across seven districts in Maoist-affected Bastar region and Rajnandgaon district and concluded at 4 pm. Polling for the rest of the constituencies began at 8 am. More than 100,000 security personnel were deployed and helicopters were pressed into service to airlift polling staff to booths.

Voting was delayed in 53 polling stations of the 4336 booths due to technical reasons. However , smooth polling was witnessed elsewhere with people waiting in long queues , Election Commission sources said.

Live updates: IED blast reported as polling begins in 18 Maoist-affected seats

In a morning tweet, Modi urged people to come out in large numbers to vote in the assembly polls.

“It’s the first phase of polling in Chhattisgarh. I request all voters to participate in the great festival of democracy with enthusiasm and come out in large numbers to vote,” Modi tweeted.

At least six attacks by suspected Maoists, who have asked people to boycott the elections, have killed 14 people, including a Doordarshan cameraperson covering the elections, in the past 15 days.

The state’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress, which has launched an aggressive campaign to return to power after 15 years, are hopeful of a good showing in the first phase. Five years ago, the Congress won 12 of these 18 seats months after an audacious attack by Maoists that killed at least 25 people, including senior party leaders in Bastar.

“The first phase of polling is very important for both parties. The pattern and polling will reflect the political mood in Chhattisgarh,” said Raipur-based political commentator Ashok Tomar.

Hours before polling, state Congress vice-president Ghanaram Sahu announced his resignation from the party on Sunday night, becoming the second senior leader to quit the party ahead of elections. He today joined the BJP.

In a three-way contest, another player — an alliance of the Communist Party of India (CPI), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and former Congress chief minister Ajit Jogi’s Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) — is looking to play a crucial role in shaping the outcome.

The 2013 polls for Chhattisgarh’s 90 assembly constituencies were close, with the BJP winning 49 seats and the Congress 39. The difference in vote share between them was less than one percentage point. Mayawati’s BSP secured one seat and the other went to an independent.

The next and last phase of the Chhattisgarh elections will be held on November 20.

Political pundits are keenly watching the polls in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Telangana, which come months ahead of next year’s general elections.