Assembly Elections: Voting Underway in MP, Chhattisgarh Amid Tight Security

Bhopal: Over 28.18% of electorates exercised their franchise till 11 a.m in Madhya Pradesh, where polling began on Friday morning for the 230-member Assembly.

In Chhattisgarh, a voter turnout of 19.65% was recorded till 11 a.m in 70 Assembly constituencies for the second phase of the elections that began under a thick security blanket of police and paramilitary personnel, a poll official said.

In MP, there are 2,533 candidates in the fray including political heavyweights like Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his predecessor and rival Kamal Nath.

Polling began at 7 a.m across all 230 constituencies, including 47 reserved for ST and 35 for the SC, in the state, an official said.

Women were seen standing in queues for voting at various polling booths in the state including Hoshangabad, an eyewitness said.

Voting will continue till 6 p.m in all the polling stations, except those in Naxalite-affected areas of Balaghat, Mandla and Dindori districts where it will end at 3 p.m, the official said.

A total of 64,626 polling stations have been set up in the state. Among these, 64,523 are main booths and 103 associate (sahayak) stations, where the number of electors is more than 1,500, the official said.

As many as 5,60,58,521 voters, including 2,87,82,261 males, 2,71,99,586 females and 1,292 third-gender persons, are eligible to exercise their franchise. The total number of voters also includes service and overseas electors, the official informed.

A total of 2,533 candidates of political parties and independents 2,280 males, 252 females and a third-gender person are vying to enter the state Assembly.

Chhattisgarh: Thick Security Blanket

Raipur: A voter turnout of 19.65% was recorded till 11 a.m in 70 assembly constituencies for the second phase of the Chhattisgarh elections that began under a thick security blanket of police and paramilitary personnel, a poll official said.

Polling in 70 constituencies began at 8 a.m and will conclude at 5 p.m, except in nine polling booths in the Naxal-affected Bindranawagarh seat in Gariaband district, where voting began at 7 a.m for security reasons, a poll official said.

The booths in Bindranawagarh where voting will be held from 7 a.m to 3 p.m are Kamarbhaudi, Amamora, Odh, Bade Gobra, Ganwargaon, Gariba, Nagesh, Sahbinkachhar and Kodomali.

Meanwhile, residents of Thenthaguddi village in Raigarh district have not turned up to the polling booth. They have decided to boycott voting alleging that no road has been constructed in their village.

Sonu Pradhan, a resident of the village, told reporters, “There are more than 330 voters in the village and everyone has decided not to exercise their franchise. We have already said that till our demand for the construction of a road in the village is not fulfilled we will not take part in the electoral process.”.

The second phase of polls will decide the electoral fate of political heavyweights like Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, his deputy TS Singh Deo, eight state ministers, and four members of Parliament. The first phase was conducted on November 7.

Congress Appeal to Voters

In Delhi, Congress on Friday appealed to voters in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh to make the best use of their vote and elect a Congress government that has the trust of the poor, farmers, women and youth.

In an appeal to voters of Chhattisgarh, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said they have to help maintain just governance, which is capable of providing development, progress and social security to the state.

"Our special welcome and congratulations to our young voters who are voting for the first time," he said.

"Strengthen democracy, keep the faith. Because It's a matter of pride, Chhattisgarhiya of self-respect!" Kharge said.

"New venues of employment are waiting for you and you will be free from the recruitment scams of the state," Kharge said in his message to voters.

He said the valuable vote of our mothers and sisters will create a cycle of economic security for women, which will lead them on the path of self-reliance.

"Our farmers, farm labourer brothers and sisters, will get better prices for their crops and their loans will be waived off with their one vote," he said.

Our Dalits, tribals and people of backward communities will get rid of the daily atrocities and will become strong partners of development in the justice system, the Congress chief also said.

"The power of your one vote can provide important social security to students like financial assistance, right to health and drinking water and free insurance for treatment.

"....So raise your hand on the voting button, And exercise your democratic rights vigorously," he said.

"Madhya Pradesh will be victorious, Our country will become better," Kharge also said.

The Congress is seeking to wrest power from the BJP in Madhya Pradesh.

Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said, "Congress storm is coming in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh - with a huge majority!" "Come out of your homes, vote in large numbers today - and elect a Congress government that has the trust of the poor, farmers, women and youth," Gandhi said in his appeal to voters on X.