In Chhattisgarh, polling is in progress in Maoist affected Bastar constituency. Balloting started at 7.00 AM. An estimated 12 per cent of about 13 lakh electorate have exercised their franchise in the first three hours of balloting.

The constituency is reserved for the scheduled tribe candidates. Amid Maoist call for boycott, tight security arrangements have been made for conduct of free and fair elections. No major untoward incident has been reported so far.

Armed security personnel are manning about 18 hundred polling stations. Out of these more than 14 hundred are sensitive polling stations.

Security forces have defused live bombs planted by Maoists near some polling stations of Dantawada and Narayanpur district. Maoist blew up a mobile tower situated in Chhattisgarh- Andhra Pradesh border.