In Chhattisgarh, an estimated 45 per cent of over 29 lakh voters have exercised their franchise till noon as polling progressed by and large peaceful in 18 constituencies where elections are being held in the first phase. Barring stray incidents of violence, EVM snatching by the Maoists, no major untoward incident has been reported so far from anywhere.
Maoists had an encounter with the security forces in Bijapur and Narayanpur districts. However, there was no casualty. Durgapur polling station in Kanker district came under attack from Maoists as they opened fire on security forces. A special task force constable was injured. In Kanker district, polling in two polling stations at Durgapur and Sitaram have been deferred as polling parties could not reach there because of Maoist Attack.
AIR correspondent reports that security forces have detected and defused bombs planted by the Maoists in areas close to polling stations in different constituencies in tribal Bastar region.
Polling will come to an end at 3 PM in 13 constituencies, including twelve in Bastar region and one in Rajnandgaon district, while in other five assembly segments balloting will continue till 5 PM.
As polling is progressing in the Maoist affected areas, democracy is set to win. The credit goes to the efforts of election commission, tight security arrangements and the courage as well as enthusiasm of voters. Braving landmines laid by the Maoists to enforce their call for boycott of elections, voters from the remote villages walked many kilometers to reach the polling stations to exercise their franchise. Long queues were seen even in the Maoist affected Narayanpur, Bijapur, Dantewada and Jagdlapur areas. Barring stray incidents of violence, polling is progressing peacefully in all the 18 constituencies. This election is also historic as it is for the first time in the country that electronic voting machines (EVMs) have None of the above (NOTA) button. How many voters have used this option would be revealed only on December eight when the counting takes place.
