The polling for the first phase of Chattisgarh assembly elections concluded at 5.30 pm on Monday, November 12.
The voting for all 18 seats in the first phase began at 7 am and concluded at 5.30 pm.
Stringent security arrangements were made and over 1.25 lakh police and paramilitary personnel were deployed to counter possible Naxal attacks during the assembly elections.
The polling began at 7 am in Mohla-Manpur, Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Keshkal, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur and Konta.
While districts like Khairagarh, Dongargarh, Khuji, Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Bastar, Jagdalpur and Chitrakot commenced polling from 8 am, reports NDTV.
In the first phase, 190 candidates were in the fray and as per electoral rolls, there were about 31,80,014 voters. Women voters outnumber men for the first phase of polling, with 16,22,492 female voters as against 15,57,435 men. There were 87 third gender voters as well, reports PTI.
Polling concludes in first phase of assembly electionsThe first phase of assembly elections in Chhatisgarh for all 18 seats concluded at 5.30 pm.
Polling for all 18 seats in the first phase of #ChhattisgarhAssemblyElections2018 has ended; visuals from Rajnandgaon. pic.twitter.com/ukaSpyUxjH
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018
In the first phase of Chhattisgarh assembly elections, voter turnout recorded 56.58% till 4.30 pm, including 61.47% in Kondagaon, 63.51% in Keshkal, 62% in Kanker, 58% in Bastar, 49% in Dantewada, 60.5% in Khairagarh, 64% in Dongargarh, 65.5% in Khujji, reports ANI.
5 Naxals killed in encounter, three CoBRA commando injuredAround five Naxals were killed in an encounter that broke out between security forces & Naxals in Bijapur's Pamed area during the assembly elections. Three personnel of Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) were injured.
#UPDATE: Three more personnel of Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) are injured and around five Naxals are dead in the encounter that broke out between security forces & Naxals in Bijapur's Pamed area today. All the CoBRA personnel are out danger. #Chhattisgarh https://t.co/TkhHF0pjpG
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018
A 103-year-old woman, Soni Bai, turned up to cast her vote in Gorgunda's Devarpalli, Sukma. Her son carried her in his arms to the polling station.
Sukma: 103-year-old woman Soni Bai exercised her voting rights at a polling booth in Gorgunda's Devarpalli. His son carried her to the polling station in his arms. #ChhattisgarhAssemblyElections2018 pic.twitter.com/dIJk9kXrRN
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018
Voter turnout recorded highest in Rajnandgaon in the first phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly elections with 39% in Mohala-Manpur constituency followed by Kondagaon district which recorded a voter turnout of 33 per cent.
Claims of EVMs malfunctioning repeatedly are false, says ECCertain sources are spreading rumours that EVMs are malfunctioning repeatedly. This is to clarify that above info is false. Voting is going on smoothly. If at all, any glitches are noticed, issue is sorted out as quickly as possible: Election Commission
Certain sources are spreading rumours that EVMs are malfunctioning repeatedly. This is to clarify that above info is false. Voting is going on smoothly. If at all, any glitches are noticed, issue is sorted out as quickly as possible: Election Commission on #ChhattisgarhElections pic.twitter.com/7n4g7XDQh4
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018
In the first phase of Chhattisgarh assembly elections, out of the total of 4336 polling stations, 53 reported delayed start of polling due to technical reasons.
53 polling stations out of the total of 4336 reported delayed start of polling due to technical reasons, however, 100% polling stations have reported smooth polling with long queues outside: Election Commission on #ChhattisgarhAssemblyElections2018 pic.twitter.com/5iRyCcrqUv
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018
Voters in Jagdalpur's Gandhi Nagar ward protested outside the polling centre, claiming names of many voters including those who have been living in Chhattisgarh for past 25 years are missing.
#ChhattisgarhAssemblyElections2018: Voters in Jagdalpur's Gandhi Nagar ward protest outside the polling centre, say, "The names of many voters are missing including those who have been living here for the past 25 years." pic.twitter.com/AGri8PE626
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018
Two Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) jawans were injured in an encounter which broke out between security forces & Naxals in Bijapur's Pamed area at around 12:20 pm. Gun battle underway.
#UPDATE: 2 Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) jawan injured in the encounter that broke out between security forces & Naxals in Bijapur's Pamed area. #Chhattisgarh https://t.co/XG4SnFzCC6
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018
Chief Minister Raman Singh took to Twitter and urged youth, women and senior citizens of the state to cast their votes in the assembly elections.
आज हमारे छत्तीसगढ़ में भारतीय लोकतांत्रिक व्यवस्था का महापर्व है। आप सभी युवाओं, महिलाओं और वरिष्ठजनों से मेरा यह आग्रह है कि छत्तीसगढ़ विधानसभा चुनाव-2018 के प्रथम चरण में आप सभी अपने मताधिकार का प्रयोग अवश्य करें। आपका मतदान ही राष्ट्र की ताकत है।
— Dr Raman Singh (@drramansingh) November 12, 2018
Three IEDs have been detected near a polling booth in Konta's Banda. CRPF bomb disposal squad are now in the process of defusing them.
Three IEDs have been detected near a polling booth in Konta's Banda and CRPF Bomb disposal squad is in the process of defusing. Polling is underway at a makeshift booth under a tree. #ChhattisgarhAssemblyElections2018 https://t.co/YfWH3UBaqs
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018
A differently abled person arrived at Chintagupha polling booth in Dantewada to cast his vote.
Dantewada: A differently-abled person reaches Chintagupha polling booth to cast his vote in the first phase of #ChhattisgarhAssemblyElections2018 pic.twitter.com/Gcr545vs0B
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018
Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the people of Chhattisgarh to cast their votes in large numbers.
छत्तीसगढ़ में मतदान का आज पहला चरण है। सभी मतदाताओं से मेरा आग्रह है कि वे पूरे उत्साह के साथ लोकतंत्र के महापर्व में अवश्य भाग लें और भारी संख्या में मतदान करें।
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 12, 2018
A 100-year-old woman reached a polling booth in Dornapal constituency to cast her vote in the first phase of assembly elections.
Sukma: A 100-year-old woman reaches a polling station in Dornapal to cast her vote in the first phase of #ChhattisgarhAssemblyElections2018 pic.twitter.com/A8W8zxpcxf
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018
A voter turnout of 10.7% was recorded till 10 am in the first phase of Chhattisgarh assembly elections, ANI reported.
10.7% voter turnout recorded till 10 am in the first phase of #ChhattisgarhAssemblyElections2018 in 18 constituencies pic.twitter.com/xl8v1GEMAD
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018
"Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was triggered by Naxals on Tumakpal-Nayanar road at around 5:30 am to target security forces. No harm to security forces & polling party. Party safely reached to Nayanar polling booth No. 183 under PS Katekalyan," Devnath AIG (Anti-Naxal Ops) told ANI.
Dantewada: 1-2 kilograms of Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blasted by naxals near Tumakpal camp in Katekalyan block. Voting is underway for 10 out of 18 seats in the first phase of #ChhattisgarhAssemblyElection2018.
— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018