Polling ends for last phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly elections

Polling for the second and final phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly elections entailing 72 constituencies spread across 19 districts officially ended on Tuesday, November 20. Over 60% of the over 1.5 crore electorate reportedly exercised their franchise.

According to the Election Commission, over 60% turnout was recorded at the official closure of voting at 5pm. However, the figure is likely to go up with people still standing in queues in many booths.

The first phase of election in 18 constituencies across eight Maoist-affected districts of the state took place on November 12 and saw 76.28% voting.

The results will be declared on December 11.

Amid tight security, polling began at 8 am for the second and concluding phase on Tuesday, November 20, for 72 seats spread across 19 districts to elect a new Chhattisgarh Assembly, officials said.

A total of 1,079 candidates are in the fray, and both Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are contesting all the 72 seats. The Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is in the fray for 25 seats and its ally and former Chief Minister Jogi's Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J) is vying in 46 seats.

The 15 million voters in the second phase on Tuesday will also decide fate of former chief minister Ajit Jogi, whose Janata Congress Chhattisgarh is fighting the election in alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Jogi is banking on the Satnami community and scheduled castes who hold influence in 58 of the 72 seats in the plains of Chhattisgarh.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has fielded candidates in 66 constituencies. An electorate of over 1.5 crore, including over 77 lakh male and over 76 lakh female voters, are eligible to exercise their franchise. There are nearly 1,000 voters from the third gender.

The BJP is in power in the state since 2003.