Chhatisgarh News

The EC on Friday announced the schedule for elections in 5-states; two-phased polls will be held in Chhatisgarh on November-11&19, while there'll be one-phase poll in Rajasthan (December-1), MP (November-25), Delhi and Mizoram (December-4). The Counting in all the states will happen on December-8. For the first time, EVMs will also have 'none of the above' (NOTA) option.

Former PM AB Vajpayee's niece Karuna Shukla, a BJP national vice president, has announced her resignation from the party alleging that the party is under the grip of power politics with Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh running one-man show. She said she was forced to contest from Korba, while her choice was Beltara constituency and would now spend time with family.

Chhattisgarh Assembly elections witnessed a relocation of 167 polling stations for security and accessibility in the sensitive areas of Naxal-affected Bastar region. According to the Chief Electoral Officer, most of the polling stations have been moved around 40 km away from earlier locations. Centre has sent around 40,000 paramilitary personnel, 65,000 police personnel, and 27,000 paramilitary troopers for peaceful polling.

To ensure secure assembly elections in Chhattisgarh's Maoist-affected Bastar region after the poll boycott call by Maoists, the home ministry has increased the number of unarmed aerial vehicles (UAVs) for round-the-clock surveillance. About half a dozen indigenous UAV Netra, owned by the CRPF, have been deployed and over 50,000 security forces have been inducted in the region.

A day before Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, allegations of rape have emerged against BJP legislator and Bilaspur candidate Krishnamurti Bandhi. The victim, who was found burnt inside the premises of Bandhi's aide and former judge, RR Bhardwaj, said, "Bhardwaj first raped me and then introduced me to Bandhi, who forced me to have relationship with many people. Police have arrested Bhardwaj.

In spite of the violence by naxalites, who have called for a poll boycott, the first phase of assembly elections in Chhattisgarh witnessed 67% voting across 18 constituencies of Bastar and Rajnandgaon. However, Naxalite resistance dominated in polling booths of Durgapur and Sitram in Kanker district, which led to the failure of voting in these two places.

A joint team by STF and district police on Wednesday arrested four Naxals including three women in connection with attack on Mankeli polling booth in Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) on Nov-11. One of them, identified as Kaadti Parmila, is a member of Naxals' Military Company with a reward of Rs 1 lakh on her, police said.

With assets worth around Rs.570 crore, Congress MLA Tribhuneshwar Saran Singh Deo is the richest poll candidate in Chhattisgarh. Singh Deo, who was also the richest candidate in 2008 elections with assets around Rs.187 crore, has movable assets worth Rs.10.03 crore and immovable assets estimated at Rs.555 crore. Moreover, he possesses Rs.4.25 lakh in cash and maintains 18 bank accounts.

While addressing a public meeting in Kunkuri in Chhattisgarh on Nov-11, Congress leader and former CM Ajit Jogi told people that they would suffer electric shocks on pressing buttons other than that of Congress on EVMs. Returning officer of the constituency has served him a notice for allegedly violating the poll code by misleading tribal voters over functioning of EVMs.

The tentative voter turnout in the second and final phase of Chhattisgarh elections was 74.70%, with over 10 million votes casted in 72 constituencies on Tuesday. The Election Commission of India called it the highest-ever turnout in these seats in Chhattisgarh. The first phase of elections was held on November-11 for 18 seats.