Campaigning for second phase of Chhattisgarh polls ends today

Campaigning for second phase of assembly elections in Chhattisgarh will come to an end this evening.

Chhattisgarh, which witnessed a voter turnout of 67 percent in its first phase November 11, will go into its second phase of polls on November 19, for the remaining 72 constituencies.

The Congress, BJP and other political parties are putting in their best to canvass support for their candidates on the last day of electioneering.

Congress mainly raised issues of corruption and deteriorating law and order situation in the state while the BJP has sought to project its government's achievements to seek voters mandate.

Addressing a rally here, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said that the BJP led Chhattisgarh Government talks about development, but it has failed to address issues like corruption, terrorism, and crime against women in the state.

"Chhattisgarh has the highest number of incidents of Naxal violence, and BJP blames us (Congress) for not dealing properly with terrorism. The amount of violence existing in Chhattisgarh, no other state has ever seen," he said.

However, praising the achievements of incumbent BJP Chief Minister Raman Singh during the last ten years, BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, who was addressing a rally in Bemetara, urged the people of the state to vote for the 'lotus' symbol, i.e the BJP, for a third consecutive term in office.

"Make the BJP win with a thumping majority. People of Chhattisgarh, the media wants the Congress to declare and name it's CM candidate for Chhattisgarh. I would like to ask the Congress as to why is it trying to achieve power (in the state) through backdoor entry? Why is the Congress silent and not talking about the hardships it has caused? What is troubling the Congress that it is not naming its CM candidate? What is preventing the Congress from revealing this? Why is not happy with the development taking place in Chhattisgarh under Raman Singh's leadership," asked Modi.