The final phase of Chattisgarh Assembly elections officially ended on Tuesday with voting taking place in 72 constituencies spread across 19 districts.

Nov 20, 2018 5:57 PM

Nov 20, 2018 5:47 PM

Chhattisgarh polls: 45.2% voter turnout till 3 pm ## Chhattisgarh polls: 45.2% voter turnout till 3 pm

Around 45.2 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 3 pm in 72 constituencies in the second and final phase of the Chhattisgarh Assembly polls on Tuesday, a poll official said.

A total of 1,079 candidates, including 119 women, are contesting in 72 constituencies of the state with an electorate of 1,54,00,596.

The figure stood at nearly 25.2 per cent till 12:30pm.

The first phase of the polls in 18 seats of eight Naxal- hit districts last week had recorded over 76-per-cent voter turnout.

This is the last of the two-phase polls to the 90-member Assembly, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been in power for the last 15 years.

"Around 45.2 per cent polling has been registered till 3 pm," the official said.

The time of polling is from 8 am to 5 pm in all booths except two- Amamora (booth no.72) and Modh (no.76) in Bindranavgarh constituency in Gariaband district, where voting is being held from 7 am to 3 pm due to the Naxal issue, the official informed.

There were reports of technical snag in EVMs at some places which delayed the polling, he said.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has removed a presiding officer and a polling staff deployed at different polling booths in Marwahi constituency of Bilaspur district following the receipt of complaints against them.

Bilaspur Collector P Dayanand removed presiding officer of Semra polling booth, Surendra Kumar Mandavi, and a polling staff of Dhanauli polling station, Kamal Kishore Tiwari, after getting complaints against them by concerned polling agents, a statement issued by poll officials said.

"An enquiry has been ordered against Mandavi and Tiwari and they have been ousted from the polling duty," it said.

Chief Minister Raman Singh, his wife Veena Singh and son Abhishek Singh, a BJP MP from Rajnandaon district, voted in Kawardha constituency.

State ministers including Brijmohan Agrawal, Rajesh Munat and Prem Prakash Pandey, besides State Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel and Leader of Opposition T S Singhdeo exercised their franchise in their respective areas.

Around 1.50 lakh security personnel have been deployed across the state to ensure peaceful polling, he said.

In the second phase, districts like Gariaband, Dhamtari, Mahasamund, Kabirdham, Jashpur and Balrampur are Naxal-affected areas and extra vigil is being maintained there, the official said.

The maximum number of candidates are in Raipur City South constituency (46), and the least number of six candidates are in Bindranavagarh seat.

Of the 72 seats, 17 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes and nine for Scheduled Castes.

A total of 19,336 polling booths have been set up for the second phase, of which 444 are sensitive booths.

The counting of votes will be held on December 11.

Nov 20, 2018 4:56 PM

Nov 20, 2018 4:46 PM

A total of 1,079 candidates are in the fray with both the Congress and the BJP are contesting all the 72 seats.

The Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is in the fray for 25 seats and its ally and former Chief Minister Jogi's Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J) in 46 seats.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded candidates in 66 constituencies.

Nov 20, 2018 4:46 PM

Voter turnout recorded at 42% till 2.55pm##Voter turnout recorded at 42% till 2.55pm

More than 42 percent voting was recorded till 2.55 pm in the second phase of voting in Chhattisgarh's 72 legislative assembly seats. Sarangarh recorded the highest nearly 51 percent voting till 2.30 pm, while Raipur City North had one of the lowest turnout at 36 percent.

Nov 20, 2018 3:24 PM

Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh casts his vote at a polling booth in Kawardha##Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh casts his vote at a polling booth in Kawardha

Nov 20, 2018 1:44 PM

Voters' names missing in Raipur's Boriakala##Voters' names missing in Raipur's Boriakala

In Raipur's Boriakala, around 1,100 names of voters are missing from the voter list, Firstpost reported. Booth No. 243 has 99 names missing while at booth no. 244 has 1,061 names are missing. The officials are saying their votes have been shifted to other booths, but the voters are unaware of those booths.

Nov 20, 2018 1:42 PM

More than 25% voter turnout till 12.30 pm in Chhattisgarh: CEO Chhattisgarh##More than 25% voter turnout till 12.30 pm in Chhattisgarh: CEO Chhattisgarh

Nov 20, 2018 1:37 PM

Congress will return to power in Chhattisgarh: Veerappa Moily##Congress will return to power in Chhattisgarh: Veerappa Moily

Senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily on November 19 said his party would return to power in Chhattisgarh after a gap of 15 years, riding on a "strong anti-incumbency" wave. He also claimed that the Congress would increase its tally from 12 to 15 of the 18 seats in the Naxal-hit areas of the state.

"We are definitely returning to power in Chhattisgarh after a gap of 15 years, because there is a very strong anti-incumbency wave against the Raman Singh and Narendra Modi governments in the state and at the Centre," the former Union minister told PTI.

Nov 20, 2018 12:16 PM

Voter turnout till 11 am at several districts##Voter turnout till 11 am at several districts

Jashpur 13.90%

Raipur City North 13.79%

Premnagar 13.17%

Bharatpur-Sonhat 13.12%

Kawardha 13.00%

Gunderdehi 13.00%

Dharsiwa 12.60%

Abhanpur 20.35%

Masturi 18.75%

Dharamjaigarh16.00%

Patan 15.92%

Durg Gramin 15.00%

Sanjari balod 15.00%

Lundra 15.00%

Nov 20, 2018 12:15 PM

Voters in Bhatgaon boycott election over lack of development##Voters in Bhatgaon boycott election over lack of development

Voters have boycotted the elections in Bhatgaon constituency over zero development and not even a single vote has been cast here till now. Officials are trying to convince people to come out and vote.

Nov 20, 2018 11:28 AM

JCC president Ajit Jogi casts his vote at a polling booth in Pendra##JCC president Ajit Jogi casts his vote at a polling booth in Pendra

Nov 20, 2018 10:32 AM

Unaccounted cash, booze worth over Rs 11 crore seized in run-up to polls##Unaccounted cash, booze worth over Rs 11 crore seized in run-up to polls

Unaccounted cash, illicit liquor and other items worth over Rs 11.85 crore have been seized by officials in Chhattisgarh in run-up to assembly elections since October 4 when the model code came into force. The elections for the total 90 constituencies are being held in two phases--November 12 and November 20. "Flying squads constituted by district election offices have been keeping a close watch on illegal consignment of liquor, cash and other items meant to influence the polls," said an officer with the office of State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO).

These squads comprise personnel from the police, excise and income tax departments, he said. He said unaccounted cash, illicit liquor, drugs, jewellery and other items worth Rs 11,85,51,461 have been seized from separate places in the state during October 4-November 16 period.

"Recovered items include cash worth Rs 4,47,13,358 and 70,681 litres of liquor worth around Rs 1,30,15,000," he said. The officer said 22-kg narcotic items worth Rs 1.76 lakh were also recovered.

"Besides, jewelleries and other valuables worth Rs 29,13,871 were seized, apart from laptops, vehicles, pressure cookers and other items worth Rs 5,77,33,175," he said, adding that cases have been registered under appropriate acts. (PTI)

Nov 20, 2018 9:57 AM

Key facts: 119 women contestants in the second phase, 26 reserved seats at stake##Key facts: 119 women contestants in the second phase, 26 reserved seats at stake

There are 119 women contestants while the maximum number of candidates are in Raipur city south constituency where 46 nominees are in the fray. The least number of candidates are in Bindranavagarh seat 6. Of the total number of voters, 77,53,337 are men, 76,46,382 women and 877 are from the third gender. Of the total 72 seats, 17 are reserved for Scheduled Tribe and 9 for Scheduled caste. A total of 19,336 polling booths have been set up for the second phase, of which 444 are sensitive booths. Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPAT) were set up in all 19336 polling stations. EVMs will have 19,336 control units and 25,640 ballot units. Of the 19,336 polling booths, web casting facility has been provided in 2,112 booths through which Election Commission of India can monitor those polling stations, he said. For the second phase of voting, 84,688 polling personnel have been deployed including the reserve staff.

Nov 20, 2018 9:41 AM

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