A security personnel assisting an elderly lady to a polling station in Bastar : Curtsey ECI
Amid fear of retaliation from the insurgents after the fierce encounter that killed 29 Maoists under Chotebethiya police station limits of Kanker, voters in Kanker Lok Sabha seats turned out in large numbers to participate in the celebration of democracy during the second phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections that was held on Friday, April 26.
According to the figures available, an impressive turnout of 74.60 was recorded in the Kanker Lok Sabha seat which has been in the news lately, Here, Indian National Congress (INC) candidate Biresh Thakur and Bhartaiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) Bhojraj Nag were locking horns.
A total of 727, including 285 Maoist affected polling booths, were made in the constituency where voting has been done peacefully. This includes 9 extremely sensitive polling booths under the Antagarh assembly, where polling teams were earlier airlifted through helicopters.
Adequate arrangements of security personnel has been made earlier in view of holding the elections peacefully, The constituency has a number of Maoist affected regions where voting was done amidst tight security, According to the details, around 50,000 security personnel were stationed at separate places to ensure uninterrupted and peaceful elections.
It is to be noted that earlier, the extremist had given a call to boycott the elections and had also called for a shutdown in Kanker, Mohla Manpur, and Narayanpur districts on Thursday, April 25. Despite the shutdown call and boycott appeal, the constituency witnessed an impressive turnout of voters on April 25.
Significantly, people from as many as 46 villages have cast their votes in the polling stations made up in their own villages for the first time, increasing the tally to a total of 102 polling station after completion of the second phase of elections.
Significant turnout witnessed in Rajnandgaon and Mahasamund
The high-profile seat of Rajnandgaon, where the former Chief Minister (CM) and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel are up against the incumbent BJP MP Santosh Pandey, also witnessed similar voting trends. Here, a turnout of around 74 per cent was recorded till 6 pm.
In Mahasamund the total turnout recorded till 6pm was around 72 per cent, here the BJP candidate Kumari Chaudhary is in fray with Congress heavyweight Tamradhwaj Sahu.
Reacting to the impressive turnout of voters, CM Vishnu Deo Sai, while speaking to the media, said that elections have been held in Rajnandgaon, Kanker and Mahasamund and a voter turnout of around 74 per cent has been witnessed. There is a good trend in favour of BJP. The party is going to win all three Lok Sabha seats.
Meanwhile, reacting to the voting in the second phase, senior Congress leader and INC’s candidate from Bastar, Kawasi Lakhma, said that yesterday’s voting was in favour of Congress party. Three seats in the second phase, along with the Bastar Lok Sabha seat, will be won by the Congress party.
It is to be noted that the voting exercise was held on as many as 88 Lok Sabha seats simultaneously across 13 states and Union territories under the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on April 26. As per the Election Commission of India’s figures, the total turnout of the voters was around 60 per cent till 7pm.
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