Elections LIVE: Chhattisgarh records 60.92% voter turnout till 3 PM

The voting process on 20 seats for the first phase of Chhattisgarh assembly polls has concluded. The second phase of polling on 70 seats is scheduled on November 17. 

“Voters turned up in large numbers to exercise their franchise in the festival of democracy as the states of Mizoram and Chhattisgarh went to polls today. All 40 Assembly constituencies in Mizoram went to polls in the single-phase election while 20 Assembly constituencies in Chhattisgarh went to polls in Phase-I of the elections in the state with 90 Assembly Constituencies. Tentative figures of voting of nearly 69.78% in Mizoram and 60.92% in Chhattisgarh as reported till 3 PM. The voting percentage is likely to go upwards when reports from all polling stations including interior and inaccessible polling stations come in,” said the Election Commission. 

A groom reached a polling station in Naxal-affected Narayanpur in Chhattisgarh to cast his vote. The voting began on Tuesday morning for the 20 constituencies in Chhattisgarh.

Former Chhattisgarh CM and BJP candidate Raman Singh says, "...BJP is winning at least 14 seats out of 20 on which voting is taking place in the first phase...There is a 30% share of (Chhattisgarh CM) Bhupesh Baghel in the Mahadev betting App (scam), PM Modi has made that clear. ED has proved it, a money transaction of Rs 508 crores is clearly visible,"

"We are fighting the elections on the basis of development and the work we have done from 2018 to 2023," says Congress leader and Chhattisgarh minister Mohammad Akbar while visiting a polling booth in Kawardha.

A voter turnout of 60.92 per cent was recorded in the state of Chhattisgarh till 3 pm amid Maoist-led attacks in different constituencies. 

An IED blast triggered by Naxalites and three different encounters between them and security personnel marred the first phase of polling underway in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday. According to reports, three security persons, including a CRPF jawan have been injured.

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a jab at the Congress-led administration in Chhattisgarh by asserting that the office of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is the "hub of corruption" in the state. Additionally, he charged that Baghel had failed to restrain Maoism in the state.

The state of Chhattisgarh is undergoing its first phase of polling today. As of 1 pm, Chhattisgarh registered 44.55% voting turnout, Election commission informed.

Chhattisgarh Deputy CM TS Singhdeo said, "Did you find Ram in their manifesto?... They (BJP) even forgot the slogans of 'Jai Shree Ram'...It was their motive for political gains. The Chhattisgarh government has shown the work of Ram...We are always ready to promote the activities associated with religion,"

#WATCH | Mungeli, Chhattisgarh Deputy CM TS Singhdeo says, "Did you find Ram in their manifesto?... They (BJP) even forgot the slogans of 'Jai Shree Ram'...It was their motive for political gains. The Chhattisgarh government has shown the work of Ram...We are always ready to… pic.twitter.com/NevuW0Ldtq

— ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) November 6, 2023

Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel on the day of Phase 1 polling in the state, said, "As Ajit Pawar joined the BJP, his name was removed from the ED... Himanta Biswa Sarma is CM now, his name was in Saradha Chit Fund corruption... There are many examples like this where, after being washed in 'Modi Washing Powder', all the stains are cleaned."

Third gender voters cast their vote in the special Rainbow Model polling booth of Kanker District in Chhattisgarh assembly elections 2023. 

The security personnel at the special Rainbow Model polling station are also of the third gender.

(Image Credits: Chief Election Officer, Chhattisgarh)

Naxals fired at DRG personnel deployed for outer cordon around 2 kilometres away from Banda polling station this morning. The security forces retaliated and the firing from naxals' side stopped after 10 minutes. All the jawans are safe and voting is underway: Sukma Police

In the midst of the ongoing phase 1 assembly election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday to speak at a rally and sound the bugle for the BJP's upcoming wave of campaigning leading up to the phase 2 elections. 

"Whenever Congress comes to power, the courage of terrorists and Naxalites increases in the country...The Congress government has failed to control Naxal violence. In recent times, many BJP workers have been taken away from us. A few days ago, one of our workers was shot dead..." he said while attacking the grand old party. 

22.97% voter turnout recorded till 11 am in Chhattisgarh and 26.43% in Mizoram.  

PM Modi while addressing a public meeting in Bishrampur, Surajpur, said, "The first phase of elections in Chhattisgarh is underway and as far as I have got to know, people are coming out to vote in large numbers... After independence, Adivasis did not exist for the Congress party. Congress never bothered about you or your children whereas BJP has always prioritised the development of Adivasis...Did you ever imagine that a woman coming out of an 'Adivasi' family could become the President of our country?..."

A 100 year old voter was brought to the polling station in a wheelchair by a polling friend (scout guide) to exercise her franchise in Rajnandgaon district. 

(Image Credit: Chief Electoral Officer, Chhattisgarh)

Webcasting is currently underway in the command control room at the CEO Chhattisgarh office for the first phase of elections across 2431 out of 5304 polling stations.

9.93% voter turnout recorded till 09:00 AM in Chhattisgarh Phase 1 polling

The assembly constituencies up for election today are:

1. Rajnandgaon
2. Dongargaon
3. Khujji
4. Mohla-Manpur
5. Pandariya
6. Kawardha
7. Khairagarh
8. Dongargarh
9. Antagarh
10. Bhanupratappur
11. Jagdalpur
12. Chitrakot
13. Dantewada
14. Bijapur
15. Konta
16. Kanker
17. Keshkal
18. Kondagaon
19. Narayanpur
20. Bastar

Important contenders in Chhattisgarh's election today are:

Raman Singh of the BJP, Bhawna Bohra of the BJP, Lata Usendi of the BJP, Gautam Uike of the BJP, Mohammad Akbar of the Congress, Savitri Manoj Mandavi of the Congress, Mohan Markam of the Congress, Vikram Mandavi of the Congress, and Kawasi Lakhma of the Congress.

Sukma: Voting being held in naxal-affected Karigundam area after 23 years. The polling process is being held under the security cover by CRPF 150 Battalion and District Force. 

While reacting to the IED blast on polling day Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel said, "Naxalism has retreated to a great extent with the work we have done in 5 years. As a result, polling booths have been set up inside villages. People will vote in their village itself. There is a possibility of high voting percentage in naxal affected areas."