In Chhattisgarh, elaborate arrangements are being made in Maoist-affected tribal Bastar region to ensure free and fair elections. The first phase of polling is scheduled on November 11th in 18 constituencies of the state including 12 seats of Bastar division.

Our correspondent reports that in the wake of security concerns, 169 polling stations in Bastar have been shifted elsewhere .These polling stations will be re-located to safer places like weekly markets, schools and police stations. Some of these will be located at tplaces where the voters will have to walk down a distance of 25 to 40 kilometres.Polling parties will be airlifted by helicopter to more than 300 polling stations in different constituencies in the region. Videographers and micro observers have been deployed in more than 2000 polling stations of Bastar region to ensure free and fair polls.