Raipur, Nov 20 (UNI) About 50 per cent voting has been recorded till 1500 hrs in afternoon on 72 assembly seats under 2nd phase of elections in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, amid heavy security arrangements in all polling centres.
Many polling centres are still witnessing long queues of voters. According to information received from
the office of Chief Electoral Officer Chhattisgarh, an average 50 per cent voting has been over till 1500 hrs in
afternoon.
In Balod 52 per cent voting was recorded, 61 per cent in Janjgir, 60 per cent in Sarguja, 48 per cent in Dhamtari and 43 per cent in Mahasamund.
Due to security reasons polling was conducted between 0700 hrs and 1500 hrs in two Naxal-infested polling
centres of Brindavangarh assembly constituency.
Meanwhile presiding officers- Suresh Mandavi and Kamal Tiwari- of Semra and Dhanouli polling centres in
Marwahi assembly constituency were removed from duty following inquiry into complaint about polling
agents encouraging them to facilitate voting for a particular political party. Further investigation
into complaint has been ordered.
State Chief Electoral Officer Subrat Sahoo admitted that complaints about EVM fault were received from
about 160 places in the state. But all faulty EVMs were replaced within half an hour, he said.
Meanwhile main opposition party Congress and other opposition parties have claimed about more than 500
EVMs developing faults, saying that fault in EVMs disrupted polling, compelling many voters to return
from polling centres without casting their votes.
Raising complaint of EVM fault before Election Commission, Congress alleged conspiracy of BJP behind
this.
Pradesh Congress Committee President Bhupesh Baghel alleged that most of EVMs turned faulty in polling
centres where position of Congress was strong. Meanwhile Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh has dismissed
the allegations as baseless, saying that it was a part of preparations by Congress to blame EVMs for
their imminent defeat in the elections.
About 28 per cent voting was recorded till 1200 hrs and 14 percent voting was recorded in the first 2 hours of second and final phase of assembly elections on 72 assembly constituencies of Chhattisgarh.
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