Over 1.67 cr voters to exercise their franchise in CG polls

Raipur, October 05: In the backdrop of rising naxal violence, more than 1.67 crore voters will exercise their franchise to elect 90 members of Chhattisgarh legislative assembly in two-phased elections in November 2013. The elections will be held on November 11 and 19. 

The state’s Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Kujur informed that the total of 1,67,97,368 voters (males - 85,51,862, females – 82,45,506) would be eligible to cast their vote. In 2008 polls, 1,52,18,560 voters (males – 76,75,813, females – 75,42,747) had decided the fate of total 1066 candidates.  

With model code of conduct coming into force with an immediate effect following the announcement poll schedules by Election Commission of India (ECI), Kujur has instructed officials to keep an eye on the political parties violating Prevention of Defacement of Property Act. He told that all the preparations pertaining to November polls had been done.

There will be 21,418 polling stations across the state. For the first time, voters will use Right to Reject by pressing the button None Of The Above (NOTA) in electronic voting machine if they feel none of the candidates deserves their vote. Kujur informed that the NOTA button will be positioned at last after buttons for all candidates.

The income tax officials too will be keeping tab on expenditure of the poll candidates. On instructions of ECI, 75 IT officials, in small teams, will take their position in 27 districts of Chhattisgarh. Their job will be to check political parties and poll candidates who  try to inlfuence voters by distributing cash, jewels, gifts, etc during the hustings.   

Meanwhile, ministers, parliamentary secretaries, heads of boards/corporations have started returning their government vehicles. By far, PWD minister Brijmohan Agrawal, housing and environment minister Rajesh Munat, PHE minister Kedar Kashyap, forest minister Vikram Usemdi, WRD Ramvichar Netam, food and civil supplies minister Punnulal Mohle, panchayat and rural development minister Hemchand Yadav and nine parliamentary secretaries have returned their vehicles.