Chhattisgarh polls highlights: 71.93% turnout; Raman Singh predicts BJP win

Chhattisgarh Assembly Election 2018 witnessed 71.93% voter turnout till 6 PM in phase 2. Track live updates here

7:29 PM

7:23 PM

A turnout of 71.93 per cent was recorded till 6 PM in the second phase of Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh. 

6:46 PM

The voting time ended at 5 pm, but voters were still standing in the queues, waiting for their turn at several polling booths across the state. The voting percentage is, therefore, likely to rise. 

6:46 PM

At 46, the maximum number of candidates are in Raipur City South constituency, and at six, the least number of candidates are in Bindranavagarh seat. Of the 72 seats, 17 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes and nine for Scheduled Castes. 

6:45 PM

The Election Commission has removed a presiding officer and a polling staff of different polling booths in Marwahi constituency of Bilaspur district, after receiving complaints against them.

 

Bilaspur Collector P Dayanand removed presiding officer of Semra polling booth Surendra Kumar Mandavi, and a polling staff of Dhanauli polling station Kamal Kishore Tiwari after getting complaints against them by concerned polling agents, a statement issued by poll officials said.

 

"An inquiry has been ordered against Mandavi and Tiwari and they have been ousted from the polling duty," it said. 

6:12 PM

5:59 PM

5:53 PM

Polling for the second and final phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, with voting taking place in 72 constituencies spread across 19 districts, officially ended on Tuesday. 

5:49 PM

5:43 PM

5:36 PM

Voters have taken up the challenge of ensuring a free and fair election in Naxal-hit Chhattisgarh

 

In the 2013 state polls, not a single vote was cast in Bhejji polling booth due to a boycott call by Naxals.

 

Interestingly, the rebels had been more vocal this time and had triggered a series of ugly violence before polling to unleash a wave of terror. But it did not deter Sudha Tati, who along with her other relatives, defied the call and exercised her franchise. And so did more than half the population of the constituency that had an infamous past of deadly Naxal attacks. (Read more here)  

5:20 PM

Chhattisgarh MLAs rake in the moolah, says study

 

Citing the election affidavits of the 69 re-contesting MLAs in the Chhattisgarh polls, the Association for Democratic Reform (ADR) said their declared average assets have risen to Rs 122.9 million from Rs 109.2 million, declared in 2013. (Read more here)  

5:16 PM

Chhattisgarh BJP hands out free phones to win votes

In the state of Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Raman Singh has promised a smartphone in every home -— and he has used the government-issued devices to reach voters as he campaigned in legislative elections, reported the New York Times on Monday. (Read more here) 

4:52 PM

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The contenders

 

• A total of 1,079 candidates are in the fray
• Both the Congress and the BJP are contesting all the 72 seats
• The Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is in the fray for 25 seats and its ally and former Chief Minister Jogi's Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J) in 46 seats
• The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded candidates in 66 constituencies

4:29 PM

The Congress demanded suspension and arrest of BJP candidate Siddhnath Paikra in Samri in Balrampur district for "distributing money" to voters. 

4:29 PM

The EC has rejected the allegations of widespread malfunctioning of the voting machines and asserted that the faulty machines were promptly replaced without any disruption to the voting process. "At the 19,336 polling stations being used in second phase using 25,640 Ballot Units (BUs), 19,336 Control Units (CUs) and 19,336 VVPATs, only 47 BUs, 37 CUs and 131 VVPATs have needed replacement during the polls. Given sufficient reserves available, the said replacements were handled swiftly by the local polling personnel," EC Spokesperson Sheyphali Sharan said. 

4:24 PM

From first-time voters to centenarians, people from all walks of life queued up to vote as the day progressed. Among the oldest to vote were 106-year-old Samudri Patel from Baikunthpur in Korea district and 102-year-old Raj Kunwar from Boriyakala in Raipur district. 

4:23 PM

EVMs malfunctioned in several booths across Dhamtari, Jashpur, Raipur, Ambikapur and Korba constituencies, with the Congress accusing the state's ruling BJP of indulging in "electoral malpractices" and "attempting to disrupt" the poll process. 

4:22 PM

The highest turnout was recorded in Bhatgaon at 54.30 per cent followed by Jashpur at 51.20 per cent. It was lowest in Raipur City North with 36.40 per cent and Raipur City South at 39.70 per cent. 

4:20 PM

The fate of 10 ministers, including Brijmohan Agrawal (Raipur South), Amar Agrawal (Bilaspur) and Rajesh Munat (Raipur West), among others, is also at stake in the second phase of polling. 

4:15 PM

Ajit Jogi is contesting from Marwahi, his wife, Renu Jogi, from Konta, and his daughter-in-law, Richa Jogi, from Akaltara on BSP ticket. Jogi's new political outfit, the Janata Congress Chhattisgarh, is contesting the polls in alliance with Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party. 

4:11 PM

Jogi's entire family, except his son, Amit Jogi, are contesting the crucial Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh and they say their main aim is to ensure the defeat of both the BJP and the Congress in the state.  

4:06 PM

Third force in the elections this time

 

While Raman Singh has been the chief minister for 15 years in the state's 18-year history, traditionally the main challenger for the BJP has been the Congress. However, there is a third force in the elections this time in the form of former chief minister Ajit Jogi's alliance with Dalit leader Mayawati.  

4:02 PM

Fate of many star candidates to be sealed on Tuesday

From former chief minister Ajit Jogi to his two family members -- IAS-turned-politician O P Choudhry and Sarguja's former royal T S Singhdeo -- there are many high-profile candidates whose fate would be sealed on Tuesday in the second phase of polling in this tribal-dominated state.  

3:37 PM

When asked to comment on the Congress leaders approaching Election Commission about alleged EVM tampering by the BJP, the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister stated, "They (Congress) carry out such moves in order to find an excuse for being defeated. This is their old strategy...." 

3:34 PM

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3:32 PM

BJP will get 65-plus seats: Raman Singh

 

Talking to reporters, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh stated, "I can see that the people of Chhattisgarh have come out in large number to exercise their franchise despite residing in rural and outskirts areas. After looking at the mood of the people, I am sure that BJP will again win and would get 65 plus seats. The development of the region has taken place from the time BJP has come to power and we are sure that we will emerge victorious. This time during the first phase of voting even Naxal-hit areas such Bastar the voter turn out was 80 per cent to 82 per cent." (Read more here)