Heavy polling in Chhattisgarh leaves political pundits guessing

Over 75% polling was recorded in the first phase of elections in Chattisgarh

With above 75% polling in the first phase of election in Chhattisgarh, the political pundits in the state are perplexed to establish whose votes are sealed in the electronic voting machines (EVMs).

 

Interestingly, of the 18 assembly constituencies that went to the polls in the first phase on November 11, 14 belonged to the Naxal-infested pockets. Bastar region that comprises 12 seats is known for holding the key to power in the state. The ruling BJP had bagged 10 and 11 seats in the 2003 and 2008 state polls respectively.

 

The opposition Congress party had pulled all the strings to divert the votes in Bastar to its kitty. The leaders alleged that the BJP had been manipulating votes in the Naxal areas and the heavy polling in the red zone stand testimony to the charges. The Congress party asserted that this year, the BJP would fail to manipulate following presence of central forces. (VOTERS’ SCORECARD)

 

But the 75% polling had spoilsports all the equations of Congress. “Still, the Congress party would get maximum seat in Bastar region,” Pradesh Congress President Charandas Mahant said. Bijapur and Dantewada, the two worst red infested constituencies had recorded 10% more polling.

 

“It was basically a vote against those who did not perform,”Sushil Trivedi, political observer and a retired bureaucrat, said. The heavy polling in the first phase of election in Chhattisgarh was on an expected line, he said, adding that people had exercised their franchise to rank the performance of the candidate.

 

In Rajnandgaon district that happens to be the home turf of chief minister Raman Singh, about 82% polling had been recorded that was six% higher than the 2008 polling%age. The observers feel that the votes were anti-incumbency but the BJP leaders claim that voters turned out in large number to ensure Raman Singh government was in place for the third consecutive period.

 

Even in Bastar, the BJP leaders claimed that heavy polling was in their favour. “The women had turned up in large number that indicate people had cast vote for BJP in Bastar,” said one of the leaders. Ironically, barring two seats, women voters are more in number in remaining 10 constituencies in Bastar as compared to their male counterpart.

Polling percentage	2008	2013
Khairagarh	76.51	84.02
Donagargarh	76.59	82.22
Rajnandgaon	78.69	81.95
Dongargaon	79.70	84.80
Khujji	75.00	84.58
Mohala Maanpur	71.73	79.96
Antagarh	60.44	58.00
Bhanupratappur	65.80	77.94
Kanker	70.66	80.00
Keshkal	71.86	77.00
Kondagaon	79.19	83.98
Narayanpur	60.95	71.73
Bastar	74.79	82.74
Jagdalpur	71.82	72.92
Chitrakote	64.71	79.14
Dantewada	55.60	65.00
Bijapur	29.17	41.00
Konta	43.89	43.66