Chhattisgarh Election 2023 Voting Highlights: Polling for Phase-2 ends in 70 seats, over 68% turnout recorded

Polling across the 70 Assembly seats concluded with the voter turnout recorded at 68.15 per cent till 5 PM, provisional data from the Election Commission of India showed.

The provisional data from the Election Commission showed a voter turnout of 68.15 per cent. The figure for the first phase where 20 seats went to polls stood at 78 per cent.

After casting his vote, Chhattisgarh CM and Congress candidate Bhupesh Baghel said that the Congress’ target is to cross 75 seats.

He said that the Congress high command will decide on the CM face.

Baghel has cast his vote at polling booth number 57 in Kuriddih village.

Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel said in Durg, “Good news is coming from everywhere. People are reaching the polling booth and exercising their voting rights. I appeal to those who are at home to cast their vote… Everywhere there is a one-sided environment, the trust is on Congress…”

A total of 38.22 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 1 PM in the second phase of voting in Chhattisgarh, reports news agency ANI.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, also a Congress candidate from the Durg assembly constituency, expressed confidence ahead of casting his vote on Friday, stating, “We have a strong lead with more than 75 seats. The competition here is one-sided; there is no challenge.”

Chhattisgarh deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo in Ambikapur.

In 70 Assembly constituencies that gows to polls in the second phase of elections, there are 18,806 polling stations.

Chhattisgarh Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan says, “Casting vote is the democratic right of every citizen of the country. Democracy demands that all citizens should exercise their rights and by that they decide what sort of government they want in the state and at the Centre. We have come and cast our vote.”

He has cast his vote at a polling booth in Raipur.

Chhattisgarh Dy CM and party candidate from Ambikapur, TS Singh Deo offered prayers at Mahamaya Temple in Ambikapur.

The voter turnout for the Chhattisgarh election till 9 AM was recorded at 5.71 per cent. Polling is underway for the second phase of Assembly elections across 70 constituencies.

State Minister and Congress candidate from Durg Rural, Tamradhwaj Sahu casts his vote at a polling booth in Durg. He has appealed to all electorate to cast their votes.

“In this ‘mahaparv’ of democracy, I appeal to everyone to cast vote in large numbers. It is the ‘mahaparv’ to elect good public representatives and everyone must participate in it…There is great enthusiasm in voters. Congress will get absolute majority. We are considering more than 74 seats,” he says.

Women have been entrusted with the responsibility of shouldering the entire voting process in all the 201 polling stations in Raipur North assembly constituency, a move billed by officials as the first of its kind in the country.

“For the first time in the country’s democratic history, women will shoulder the entire responsibility of an electoral process in an Assembly segment. There are 201 polling stations in Raipur City North seat and all are ‘Sangwari booths’ where everyone from the presiding officer to the polling officer are women,” the district administration said in a release on Thursday.

Chhattisgarh BJP chief Arun Sao casts his vote in Bilaspur. Polling is underway across 70 Assembly Constituencies.

“I urger all the voters to exercise their franchise and encourage others to cast their votes. These Assembly polls will decide the condition and direction of Chhattisgarh. The people are certainly seeking a change and they will vote accordingly,” state BJP chief said.

“Public anger against the Bhupesh government,” says former CM Raman Singh.

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“I appeal to all the voters of the second phase of Chhattisgarh to vote in maximum numbers to elect a government that will ensure development, justice and poor welfare by ending appeasement and corruption in the state. Your one vote will ensure Chhattisgarh’s culture, tribal pride and women’s safety,” Union Home Minister Amit Shah wrote in a post on X.

“It is a humble request to all the voters of Chhattisgarh to cast their valuable votes in the second phase of elections. You have to maintain this just governance, which is capable of providing development, progress and social security to Chhattisgarh. Special welcome and congratulations to our young voters who are voting for the first time,” Congress president Mallikarjin Kharge wrote in a post on X.

Among the candidates, 70 each are from the BJP and the Congress. There are 43 nominees from the AAP, 62 from the Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) and 33 from the Hamar Raj Party in the fray. The Mayawati-led BSP and the Gondwana Ganatantra Party, a regional political outfit, are contesting in alliance and have fielded 43 and 26 candidates, respectively.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel appeals all voters to exercise their franchise today.

“Today is the second and last round of voting in Chhattisgarh assembly elections. I request all the voters to exercise their franchise. Your every vote is valuable for democracy,” says PM Modi.

As many as 1,63,14,479 voters — 81,41,624 men , 81,72,171 women and 684 of third gender — are eligible to exercise their franchise. At 26, the Raipur City West seat has the highest number of contestants, while Dondilohara in Balod district has the lowest count of candidates at four.

A total of 958 candidates — 827 men, 130 women and one transgender person — are contesting for 70 seats spread across 22 districts. A total number of 18,833 polling booths have been set up.

Polling began at 7 am in nine polling booths in Naxal-affected Bindranawagarh seat in Gariaband district for security reasons and will end at 3 PM. The booths are Kamarbhaudi, Amamora, Odh, Bade Gobra, Ganwargaon, Gariba, Nagesh, Sahbinkachhar and Kodomali.

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