Chhattisgarh polls: Now BJP, cong jostle for 70,900 postal votes

Raipur, November 27

Polling in Chhattisgarh is not over yet. Though 77% voters have exercised their franchise by pressing the button on EVM in two rounds of polls in State, the postal ballot voters are yet to finish their job. This time, Election Commission had issued 70,900 postal ballots to government officials and employees. Considering significance of the postal electorate, especially in constituencies where victory margin was small in previous polls, the BJP and Congress are engaged in silent canvassing and offering bait to the voters as a quid pro quo for their precious votes.

The EC had engaged a total of 1.23 lakh government officials and employees in two-phased polls. Besides, 70,000 officials and security personnel from police and different armed units of State were pressed in election duty.

The commission had published about 1.25 lakh postal ballots. According to information, 70,900 postal ballots were sent to government staff who expressed their desire to cast their vote, while figures of postal ballots sent to police and other armed units have not been disclosed.

The postal votes will be accepted till December 8, the D-day when counting will be done and results will be announced. The postal voting process started on November 8.

The BJP and Congress could not approach the postal electorate as majority of them were busy in poll duty. After November 19, the candidates and workers of both the parties started contacting such voters.

In 2008, victory margin in five out of total 90 seats was by less than 1000 votes. These seats were Antagarh, Konta, Korba, Durg City, Ambikapur. This time too, the ruling and opposition parties are expecting neck and neck tussle in these as well as few more seats. Hence, they are fetching information about postal ballot voters and trying to influence them.

The BJP and Congress leaders accept that postal votes would be crucial in some seats but they deny of using any poll-stunt to woo voters. On the other hand, there are reports that the workers of these parties have tried to gain support of such voters by giving gifts and cash.

The EC officials, too, confirm that they have not received any such complaint by far. They said the expenditure of silent campaign and items distributed would be instantly appended to total expenses of the candidates who would be found violating code of conduct.