Lok Sabha Elections: Phase 2 witnesses 71.09 per cent polling in Maoist-affected Chhattisgarh

An average 71.09 per cent polling was recorded in three constituencies of Chhattisgarh where polling was held in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on Thursday, an official said. Voting was held in Kanker, Rajnandgaon and Mahasamund Lok Sabha seats, all having Naxal presence, the official said.

Voting ended in four Assembly segments - Antagarh, Keshkal, Bhanupratappur and Kanker - in the Kanker Lok Sabha constituency and Manpur-Mohla Assembly segment of Rajnandgaon parliamentary seat at 3 pm as per the schedule, he said.

In rest of the four Assembly segments - Sihawa, Sanjari- Balod, Daundilohara and Gunderdehi - of Kanker Lok Sabha seat andseven Assembly segments of the Rajnandgaon parliamentary seat, polling ended at 5 pm.

In six hypersensitive booths at Odh, Kamabhaundi, Amammora, Badegobra, Sahbinkachhar and Kodomali villages in the Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituency, polling concluded at 3 pm while in remaining areas of this seat, voters exercised their franchise till 5 pm, the official said.

Former chief minister Raman Singh, BJP candidate from Rajnandgaon Santosh Pandey, party’s state chief Vikram Usendi, Congress leader and women and child development minister Anila Bhediya and other senior leaders cast votes in their respective areas, he said.

An IED blast which was triggered by Maoists in Mohla-Manpur Assembly segment of Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency, left one Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) constable injured this morning. The jawan, identified as Maan Singh, is out of danger.

A thick security blanket of around 60,000 personnel, and drones, has been thrown around the three constituencies - Rajnandgaon, Kanker and Mahasamund - of the state where polling is held in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections.