C'garh polls: 12.54 per cent turnout till 10 am

With the voting for the second phase of Chhattisgarh underway, Durg district witnessed the highest voter turnout of 14.2 per cent till 10 am on Tuesday.

If one looks closely, the voters have come out in good number to exercise their franchise. The second phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly elections witnessed 12.54 per cent voter turnout till 10 am.

Today, the polling is taking place in 72 constituencies spread over 19 districts. The voting which commenced at 8 am is scheduled to end at 5 PM.

As many as 19,300 polling booths have been set up after scrutiny and withdrawal. 1079 candidates including 119 women are in the fray. More than 1,54,00,000 voters are eligible to exercise their voting right.

The poll body headed by Om Prakash Rawat has made all the arrangements to ensure smooth and fair elections. Around 600 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed to keep an eye on the anti-democratic elements in the state.

In an attempt to encourage women voters, the Election Commission has set up 188 Sangwari polling booths in scores of constituencies to encourage females to cast their votes. Interestingly, these booths will be operated by all-female staff. Not only that, each polling booth has a Voter Selfie Zone to encourage young minds to cast their votes

Polling for the first phase took place on November 12 in 18 constituencies of the state.