High polling recorded in C'garh 1st phase elections, leaves Congress, BJP anxious

 Raipur: The first phase of assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, in which 20 out of 90 seats in the state went to polls on November seven, has witnessed a record 78 percent polling, leaving both ruling Congress and Opposition BJP anxious.

The Election Commission (EC) late on Thursday released the final figure on the voting percentage in these 20 assembly constituencies.

The polling percentage recorded in the first phase of assembly elections in the state this time is higher by 1.53 percent than that of the last assembly polls, the EC said.

Of these 20 assembly constituencies, 12 fall under Naxal-infested Bastar division.

While Bastar assembly constituency has recorded the highest voter turnout of 84.67 percent, Bijapur assembly seat under Bastar division has the lowest 48.37 percent.

The high polling in the first phase of assembly elections has left both the ruling Congress and Opposition BJP anxious.

Former chief minister and BJP national president Raman Singh has claimed that his party may get a minimum 15 out of these 20 assembly seats and indicated that he would not be surprised if the BJP’s seat tally in the first phase goes up to 18.

This clearly indicates an undercurrent in favour of BJP in Chhattisgarh, he added.

Congress has however attributed the high polling in the first phase of assembly elections in the state to endorsement by the voters to the peace and development brought to Bastar by the Bhupesh Baghel government.

“Peace has been restored in the restive-Bastar leading the voters to exercise their franchise enthusiastically and fearlessly. This apart, 126 polling stations were established in the remote areas in Bastar for the first time.

Both the factors have contributed to the high polling in the first phase which is an endorsement to the government policies by the voters”, Congress spokesman Sushil Mohan Shukla said.

He claimed that his party would improve its tally in the first phase polling this time over the last assembly polls.

The remaining 70 seats are scheduled to go to polls on November 17.

Meanwhile, the EC has seized the cash and other materials worth Rs 66.33 crore in the state during the checking by the enforcement agencies so far.

While a cash of 17.98 crore has been seized, materials such as liquor, drugs, ornaments and other jewelleries worth Rs 48.35 crore have been seized.