Fate of 143 candidates to be decided today

Chief Minister Raman Singh, 3 ministers, among prominent contestants

The fate of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh will be decided on Monday in the first phase of elections.

In the first phase, the people of Bastar — infamously known as the red zone because the district is under the influence of Naxals - will deliver their mandate. Bastar accounts for 12 assembly constituencies.

In the 2003 and 2008 polls, the BJP had bagged 10 and 11 seats, respectively, in the state where a vote swing of two per cent makes a difference. “If the BJP succeeds to sustain the mandate, Raman Singh could think of a hat-trick,” said political observers here.

However, according to reports, the ruling party may lose two or three seats in Bastar. According to election commission officials, all arrangements have been made for holding free and fair elections in the state. The polling officials in the remote areas have already reached their respective stations, they added.

In the 12 constituencies falling under the “red zone”, polling time has been cut short by two hours to facilitate the safe passage of polling officials back to the strong room. Officials in remote areas will need to be lifted by helicopters.

In all, an estimated 29,33,200 voters are expected to exercise their franchise to decide the fate of 143 candidates. Prominent candidates include Chief Minister Raman Singh, three senior ministers Vikram Usendi, Kedar Kashyap and Lata Usendi.