AGENCIES
RAIPUR, Nov 20: Nearly 68 per cent of the 88 lakh voters exercised their right to franchise in 51 Assembly constituencies in Chhattisgarh which went to polls in the second and final phase on Thursday. While 60 per cent turnout was reported in Raipur district, it was 65 per cent each in Raigarh, Korba and Jashpur.
Ajit Jogi`s convoy attacked, escapes unhurtWhile 60 per cent turnout was reported in Raipur district, it was 65 per cent each in Raigarh, Korba and Jashpur.
In Bilaspur, 62 per cent of the voters cast their ballots, Sarguja 60 per cent, Koria 55 per cent, and Janjgir and Chapa 56 per cent.
As many as 12,073 polling stations across the eight districts were set for the polling.
Electoral fortunes of 687 candidates will be decided by 88,14,228 electorates.
Prominent leaders in the electoral battle include former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, his wife Renu Jogi, BJP state president Vishnu Deo Sai, Congress state president Dhanendra Sahu, Deputy Speaker Badridhar Diwan and Home Minster Ram Vichar Netam.
There are 12,073 polling stations across the eight districts -- Raipur, Bilaspur, Korba, Raigarh, Sarguja, Koria, Jashpur, Janjgir and Chapa, where elections began amid tight security.
Voting will be held for six scheduled caste (SC), 15 scheduled tribe (ST) and 30 unreserved seats on Friday.
About 2608 booths have been classified as sensitive and 355 booths as hyper sensitive.
Congress is contesting from 48 seats and its ally Nationalist Congress Party in three seats.
While BJP and BSP have fielded candidates from all the 51 seats, Samajwadi Party from 31 seats, Shiv Sena (32), Gondwana Ganatantra Party (35), Ramvilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) (17), Uma Bharti's Bharatiya Janshakti Party (BJS) from 19, Shibu Soren's Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) from 14, CPI 18, CPI(M) one and Republican Party of India (RPI) from 10 constituencies. |
