In Chhattisgarh, polling is in progress in 72 constituencies in the second phase of assembly elections. In all the constituencies, balloting started at 8 AM. Heavy voter turnout is being witnessed in almost all areas. Long queues are seen in different polling stations. An enthusiasm is visible among voters especially in female voters.

An estimated 15 to 20 per cent of more than one crore thirty nine lakh electorate have exercised their franchise in the first two hours of balloting. Elaborate security arrangements are in place in all the constituencies, including in Maoist affected areas. More than 50,000 security personnel have been deployed to ensure free and fair elections. The electoral fate of 842 candidates, including 75 women, will be decided today. For balloting more than Eighteen thousand polling booths have been set up.

In this phase, prominent among the contestants are assembly speaker Dharamlal Kaushik, leader of opposition in the assembly Ravindra Choubey and nine ministers in the Raman Singh cabinet.