Key Takeaways
- 38 percent of voters had cast their ballots by 1 p.m., indicating strong early participation.
- The electorate totals 1,63,14,479 voters, including 81,72,171 women and 684 third‑gender individuals.
- Prominent candidates such as Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Union Minister Renuka Singh Saruta are contesting key constituencies.
Raipur: An estimated 38 per cent voting was recorded until 1 p.m. on Friday in Chhattisgarh where exercise of franchise is underway amid heavy security arrangements across 70 Assembly constituencies in the second and final phase of polling.
Official sources provided the district‑wise break‑up:
Korba 36 percent, Koriya 40 percent, Gariaband 43, Gaurela‑Pendra‑Marwahi (a three‑part name of a single district) 33, Jashpur 42, Janjgir‑Champa 35, Durg 37, Dhamtari 43, Balrampur 45, Balodabazar‑Bhatapara 41, Balod 43, Bilaspur 30, Bemetara 37, Manendragarh‑Chirmiri‑Bharatpur 36, Mahasamund 42, Mungeli 36, Raigarh 43, Raipur 32, Sakti 32, Surguja 41, Sarangarh 42 and Surajpur 45.
With the exception of isolated wrangles between political parties’ workers, no untoward incident was reported.
The polling centres number 18,833 and the timings are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. barring nine places in Leftwing extremism-affected Bindranawagarh constituency where the timings are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Webcasting has been arranged at 9,424 centres and videography at hypersensitive ones.
The 1,63,14,479-strong electorate includes 81,72,171 women and 684 of the third gender. The fortunes of 958 candidates including 130 women and one of the third gender are being sealed in electronic voting machines.
The prominent nominees include Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel (Patan), his deputy Tribhuvaneshwar Saran Singh Deo (Ambikapur), Vidhan Sabha Speaker Charan Das Mahant (Sakti), BJP state President Arun Sao (Lormi), Janata Congress head Renu Jogi (Kota) and Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Renuka Singh Saruta (Bharatpur-Sonhat).
Counting is slated for December 3.
