RAIPUR: Curtains have rung down on electioneering in 20 assembly constituencies, including those in the Maoist-affected constituencies in tribal Bastar, which are going to polls in the first phase of elections in Chhattisgarh on November 7.
Campaigning was low-key in many constituencies, particularly in the Maoist insurgency-hit areas of Bastar, where polling is to be held under a massive security umbrella.
Prominent figures in the fray include former chief minister Raman Singh (Rajnandgaon), state Congress president Deepak Baij (Chitrakot-ST), forest minister Mohammad Akbar (Kawardha), tribal welfare minister Mohan Markam (Kondagaon-ST), excise minister Kawasi Lakhma (Konta-ST), and CPI leader Manish Kunjam (Konta-ST), who is contesting as an independent candidate.
A total of 5,304 polling centers have been set up for the first phase of elections. Voting will take place from 7 AM to 3 PM in ten Maoist-affected assembly constituencies, while in the remaining ten assembly constituencies, voting will be conducted from 8 AM to 5 PM.
The constituencies where voting will occur from 8 AM to 5 PM include Pandaria, Kawardha, Khairagarh, Durg, Rajnandgaon, Durgaganj, Khujji, Bastar, Jagdalpur, and Chitrakot assembly constituencies.
Meanwhile, in Mohla-Manpur, Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Keshkal, Konta, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Kondagaon assembly constituencies, voting will take place from 7 AM to 3 PM.
Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P said that the changing scenario in the Bastar region is causing concern.
“Efforts are being made by banned and unlawful Maoist organizations to disrupt the election process through continuous violent activities. This is an old tactic of the Maoist organizations, which reflects their anti-democratic face”, he added.
He claimed that the people of Bastar, the local administration and all the security personnel are determined to strengthen the democratic system and work for peace, security, and development in Bastar. He assured all the voters in Bastar about the security arrangements and encouraged voters to reach polling centers without any fear to fulfill their constitutional responsibility.
In the Maoist-affected Bastar division of the state, many polling parties are being airlifted to polling booths via helicopters. Out of the 20 assembly constituencies where voting is to be held in the first phase in Chhattisgarh, 12 are in the Maoist-affected Bastar division. 2,900 polling booths have been established in the Bastar division. Of these, 650 are sensitive.
This time, 196 polling booths have been shifted for security reasons. In addition, 126 polling booths have been opened in villages where, in this election, people will have the facility to vote in their own village for the first time after independence. The process of sending polling teams to remote and Maoist-affected polling booths in Bastar division has started. For the 150 most sensitive polling booths, polling parties are being sent by helicopter.
