C'garh witnesses 14 per cent rise in voting this time

A record 69.48 per cent of the electorate exercised the franchise in Chhattisgarh in the three-phase Lok Sabha election this time, which was over 14 per cent higher than in 2009.
"A total of 69.48 per cent voter turnout was recorded in 11 constituencies of the state," Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Kujur said today.
The last phase ended yesterday.
In 2004, the polling percentage in the Naxal-affected state was 52.09, while in 2009 it increased a little to 55.29.
But this time, the state witnessed a massive 14 per cent increase as about 70 per cent of the 1,76,23,818 electorate cast the vote.

The highest turnout was recorded in tribal-dominated Surguja (77.90%) followed by Raigarh (76.82%), Mahasamund (74.63%), Korba (74.33%), Rajnandgaon (74.21 %), Kanker (70.29%), Durg (67.87%), Raipur (65.56%), Bilaspur (63.17%), Janjgir-Champa (61.60%) and Bastar (59.40%).
In 2009 general elections, Raigarh had topped the tally with 65.31 per cent turnout while Raipur (46.98) recorded the lowest.
BJP had then won ten seats, while Congress had won only one.