The first phase of the Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections began on Tuesday, covering 20 seats in the state’s southern region. The voting process commenced at 7 a.m., accompanied by stringent security measures.

Polling was initiated at 7 a.m. for ten seats, including Mohla-Manpur, Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Keshkal, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Konta.

The remaining assembly constituencies, including Pandaria, Kawardha, Khairagarh, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Khujji, Bastar, Jagdalpur, and Chitrakote, began voting at 8 a.m. and will continue until 5 p.m.

Chhattisgarh’s state elections are conducted in two phases, with the second phase scheduled for November 17.

This first phase includes 12 seats from the Bastar division, and a total of 223 candidates are vying for these 20 seats. The election commission has set up 5304 voting booths for this phase, catering to 40,78,681 voters, including 19,93,937 male voters and 20,84,675 female voters.

Among these seats, 13 out of 20 are reserved for SC/STs. In the entire state, 29 seats are reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs), and 10 seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs).

Voting is taking place in constituencies affected by Naxalism in districts such as Bastar, Dantewada, Kanker, Kabeerdham, and Rajnandgaon.

In the first phase, notable figures like former Chief Minister Raman Singh are seeking re-election from Rajnandgaon, and State Minister Kawasi Lakhma is running again from Konta, where he currently serves as the MLA.

In the 2018 elections, the Congress secured victory in 17 out of the 20 seats being contested in Phase 1, while the BJP won two seats, and Ajit Jogi’s party secured one.

This year, the Congress has replaced six sitting MLAs in this phase, and Savita Mandavi, the wife of the late MLA Manoj Mandavi, will be contesting in the Bahnupratappur seat.

The Election Commission of India data indicates that 2,03,80,079 voters, including 19,839 service voters, will participate in the election to the 90-member assembly.

The state also has 790 gender voters and 1,60,955 voters with disabilities.

Chhattisgarh boasts 2,63,829 electors in the age group of 18-19, along with 1,86,215 senior citizens aged above 80.

The poll panel has set up 24,109 polling stations in the state, an increase from 23,667 in 2018, to ensure free and fair elections.

To maintain security, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been deployed alongside the local police force. Additionally, drones will monitor some polling centres, especially in Naxal-affected areas.

Polling teams were dispatched to all polling stations in Kanker district, where special rooms have been arranged. Teams have been sent to the Naxal-affected Bhanupratappur assembly constituencies from Kanker.

The first phase features a total of 223 candidates competing in 20 assembly constituencies, with 198 men and 25 women in the race.

The Election Commission has mandated setting up at least one polling station exclusively managed by women and persons with disabilities in each assembly constituency. Additionally, one polling station per district will be supervised by the youngest eligible employee of that district.

The counting of votes for the Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections is scheduled for December 3.

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