Raipur, November 19
After record 75.53% turnout in first phase of polling in 18 constituencies including 12 of naxal-hit Bastar division and six of Rajnandgaon district, Chhattisgarh witnessed 75% voting in second and final round in 72 constituencies under 19 districts on Tuesday. The polling held peacefully across the State except some events including one in Saja constituency where one person got killed and three injured when CRPF personnel opened fire on miscreants who tried to disrupt polling process.
A total of 843 candidates including State assembly speaker, deputy speaker, nine ministers and heavyweight Congress leaders were in fray in the second phase. The Election Commission (EC) had pressed over one lakh security personnel across the State to smoothly conduct last round of polling. In ten booths, technical snag in EVMs led to delayed polling process.
The highest voting was recorded in Kurud where turnout was 88% while lowest turnout was in Manendragarh and Vaishalinagar, i.e 60%.
The highlight of the second phase was big bunch of young voters who ardently participated in the polling process for the first time. Avid to become decisive factor in the polls, the young brigade thronged several polling stations even before commencement of polling. Old-age people waiting for their turn in long queues too indicated how much importance they give to their vote in democratic process of electing candidates.
With government announcing holiday on Tuesday and Chhattisgarh Chamber of Commerce and Industries appealing business establishments to start their work after 1 pm due to polls, roads and streets in major parts of the State wore deserted look in the first half while the ambience of polling stations remained crowded throughout the day.
The polling began at 8 am. The turnout in the first hour was modest 15%, but it gradually increased as the mercury rose in subsequent hours. While, polling in majority of the polling stations concluded at scheduled time 5 pm, a good number of last minute entrants in some booths managed to obtain tokens within the given time frame to exercise their franchise. According to EC’s directives, these token holders were allowed to cast their vote even after 5 pm.
In first three hours, 25% turnout was recorded in all 72 constituencies. In the State capital Raipur, Governor Shekhar Dutta cast his vote in Raipur City North constituency at Civil Lines-based polling Station at morning. CM Raman Singh, accompanied by his family, exercised his franchise at his hometown Kawardha.
In Saja constituency under Bemetara district, scuffle broke out between miscreants and CRPF personnel at Bhindarwani poll station when the former in boozed state reach there and created scene. A CRPF jawan opened fired when situation went out of control and miscreants including Ashok Sen, Ramavtar Verma and Dilip Nehar became violent. In firing, Sen died on the spot while Verma and Nehar received injuries. One voter Khileshwar Sahu too received minor injuries. All the injured have been admitted to local hospital. DGP Ramnivas has ordered magisterial probe into the matter.
In Jainagar polling booth under Surajpur district, one presiding officer was arrested after he was found drunk.
In Sarangarh, the voters of villages Kamreed (booth number 253) and Bamhanipali (booth number 259) boycotted polls in protest of lack of basic amenities in their areas. Since morning onwards, the villagers mustered near the two polling centres but did not exercise their franchise. Though the SDM tried to convince them to express their feeling by giving vote to their favourite candidate, they refrained from doing so.
In Raipur City South, BJP candidate and PWD minister Brijmohan Agrawal alleged that polling officials favoured Congress candidate and Raipur mayor Kiranmayi Nayak and deliberately removed names of 7000 voters from the list. He said he would lodge complain about it to the EC and even knock doors of Supreme Court.
In Dhamtari, about 30-40 Maoists were reportedly seen near Khallari village but they disappeared soon when the police forces learnt about them and took their position. However, Dhamtari DSP Vijay Katare and ASP Ashok Deepre rubbished the report and said the region was heavily guarded and polling was done peacefully.
The turnout in 72 constituencies was - Bharatpur-Sonhat – 64%, Manendragarh – 60%, Baikunthpur – 70%, Premnagar - 80%, Bhatgaon - 82%, Pratappur - 82%, Ramanujganj - 83%, Samri - 78%, Lundra - 75%, Ambikapur – 70%, Sitapur - 74%, Jashpur – 76%, Kunkuri – 74%, Paththalgaon – 75%, Lailunga – 72%, Raigarh – 70%, Sarangarh - 74%, Kharsia – 76%, Dharamjaigarh - 71%, Rampur - 78%, Korba - 74%, Kathghora - 72%, Pali-Tanakhar - 75%, Lormi – 68%, Mungeli – 72%, Takhatpur - 76%, Bilha - 72%, Bilaspur – 63%, Beltara - 70%, Masturi -68%, Marwahi – 80%, Kota - 76%, Akaltara - 68%, Janjgir-Champa - 67%, Sakti - 65%, Chandrapur - 70%, Jaijaipur - 69%, Pamgarh -70%, Saraipali - 75%, Basna - 76%, Khallari - 74%, Mahasamund - 74, Bilaigarh - 68%, Kasdol - 73, Balodabazar - 72%, Bhatapara - 73%, Dharsiva - 74%, Raipur Rural – 65%, Raipur West - 62%, Raipur North – 63%, Raipur South – 64%, Aarang - 76%, Abhanpur - 74%, Rajim - 77%, Bindranawagarh - 76%, Sihawa - 83%, Kurud - 88%, Dhamtari – 82%, Sanjari-Balod - 83%, Doundilohara - 84%, Gunderdehi - 85%, Patan – 74%, Durg Rural - 71%, Durg City - 65%, Bhilai Nagar - 66%, Vaishalinagar – 60%, Ahiwara - 71%, Saja - 74%, Bemetara - 71%, Nawagarh -68%, Pandaria - 79%and Kawardha - 78%.
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