Chhattisgarh Phase-1 Election 2023: Voting in 20 seats tomorrow, over 60,000 security personnel deployed in Bastar

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• Nov 6, 2023 | Dhupali Das

The stage is set for a significant electoral battle in Chhattisgarh as 20 of the 90 seats in the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly go to the polls on Tuesday...

Digital Desk: The stage is set for a significant electoral battle in Chhattisgarh as 20 of the 90 seats in the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly go to the polls on Tuesday, November 7. The recently concluded campaign witnessed intense political maneuvering and allegations, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi targeting Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel over his alleged link to the Mahadev betting scam. In response, the Congress accused the BJP of using central agencies to target its political opponents.

While the ruling Congress has fielded incumbent Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel as its campaign face, the BJP is banking on the popularity of Prime Minister Modi and the potential impact of several central schemes to sway voters in their favor. The BJP, which had previously ruled the state since its formation, was displaced from power by a resurgent Congress in the previous elections. The BJP was relegated to just 18 seats while the Congress claimed a landslide victory, securing 68 seats and forming a government after 15 years in opposition.

Chhattisgarh Election 2023: Seats Going to Polls on November 7

In the upcoming first phase of polling in Chhattisgarh, a total of 20 seats will be contested. These seats include Pandariya, Kawardha, Khairagarh, Dongargarh (SC), Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Khujji, Mohla-Manpur (ST), Antagarh (ST), Bhanupratappur (ST), Kanker (ST), Keshkal (ST), Kondagaon (ST), Narayanpur (ST), Bastar (ST), Jagdalpur, Chitrakot (ST), Dantewada (ST), Bijapur (ST), and Konta (ST).

Polling is scheduled to commence at 8 a.m. on November 7, under a heavy blanket of security. The Chhattisgarh police have deployed 60,000 security personnel, primarily concentrated in the sensitive Bastar region, which comprises 12 Assembly segments. More than 600 polling booths are situated in Naxal-affected areas within the Bastar division, raising concerns about security in the region as it goes to the polls in the first phase of Chhattisgarh assembly elections.

Chhattisgarh Election Phase 1: Three-Layered Security Cover

To ensure the smooth conduct of polls in the Bastar division, approximately 60,000 security personnel have been deployed, with 40,000 coming from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and 20,000 from the state police. The security apparatus features elite anti-Naxal CoBRA units and women commandos. To address security concerns, around 149 polling stations in five assembly constituencies within the Bastar division have been shifted to the nearest police stations and security camps.

Drones and helicopters will be utilized to monitor Naxal activities, while dog squads and a bomb disposal team will be on standby. Additionally, special arrangements have been made at 12 sensitive seats in the Bastar region, where polling is set to occur.

According to the Inspector General of Police, polling in nine seats will take place from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., while voters can cast their ballots from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the remaining three seats. Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Keshkal, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Konta seats will see polling from 7 AM to 3 PM, while Bastar, Jagdalpur, and Chitrakot will vote from 8 AM to 5 PM.

Special forces from adjoining states such as Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha will also assist in maintaining security along the interstate border.

Chhattisgarh Elections 2023: 149 Polling Stations Shifted

In light of security concerns, as many as 149 polling stations in Bijapur, Narayanpur, Antagarh, Dantewada, and Konta assembly constituencies have been relocated to the nearest police stations and security camps. During the 2018 Assembly polls and the Lok Sabha elections, a total of 196 and 330 polling stations, respectively, had been relocated in the region.

This time, new polling stations have been established in more than 126 locations. Forty polling stations, including Minpa, Galgam, Silger, and Chandameta, were re-established in their original villages after the security situation had normalized, according to a statement. A significant number of polling stations, at least five in each of the seven districts within the Bastar division, will be guarded by women commandos.

The second phase of polling in Chhattisgarh is scheduled for November 17, with the results set to be declared after the counting of votes on December 3. As the state braces for these crucial elections, all eyes are on the outcome, as it could significantly impact the political landscape in Chhattisgarh and beyond.