In Chhattisgarh, elaborate security arrangements are in place for the first phase of polling being held tomorrow in 18 constituencies, including the assembly segments in tribal Bastar region. 143 candidates are in the fray. A massive security cover has been provided for the smooth conduct of polling.
More than 600 companies of Central Para-Military forces have been deployed in Bastar alone where the Maoists have given a call for boycott of elections. Search operations have been intensified in all the constituencies going to polls and area-domination exercise was also being carried out.
Maoists triggered a landmine blast targeting a polling party which was on its way to Bagdongri polling station in Manpur-Mohalla assembly segment in Rajnandgaon district. Two constables of Indo-Tibetan Border police (ITBP) were injured in the blast.
Security personnel have detected and defused a large number of explosives at many places in Bastar division during search operations. Forces have recovered a crude bomb, weighing about 40 kilograms, from Barsoor area in Dantewada district while they have defused five other explosives planted by the Maoists near a polling stations in Koilibeda area in Kanker district.
Director General of State Police Ramniwas said adequate security arrangements have been made for conduct of smooth elections. He said it is also the responsibility of citizen to co-operate with the security forces for conducting fair elections.
Some prominent leaders are testing for fortunes in the first phase of elections. AIR correspondent reports, the fate of Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh, three of his Ministers Kedar Kashyap, Lata Usendi and Vikram Usendi will be captured in electronic voting machines on Monday. Wives of two slain congress leaders are also testing their electoral fortunes.
Devati Karma, wife of congress leader Mahendra Karma, and Alka Mudaliyar, wife of former MLA Uday Mudaliyar, are in the fray after the death of their husbands in the Maoist attack. As many as 4 thousand one hundred 82 EVMs are being used for polling in the first phase of elections. More than 29 lakh voters will decide the fate of 143 candidates from 18 constituencies.
