Chhattisgarh elections 2023 LIVE: Voting concludes, sealing of EVMs begins

Chhattisgarh Assembly elections LIVE: As citizens vote on 20 Assembly seats, catch all the latest updates from Chhattisgarh here

Chhattisgarh is set to vote in two phases on November 7 and 17, and the results will be declared on December 3. The first phase of polling for 20 seats in Chhattisgarh will take place today, and the remaining 70 seats in the state will go to the polls on November 17.

A total of 20 seats will go to polls today as part of the first phase of polling in Chhattisgarh. These include Pandariya, Kawardha, Khairagarh, Dongargarh (SC), Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Khujji, Mohla-Manpur (ST), Antagarh (ST), Bhanupratappur (ST), Kanker (ST), Keshkal (ST), Kondagaon (ST), Narayanpur (ST), Bastar (ST), Jagdalpur, Chitrakot (ST), Dantewada (ST), Bijapur (ST) and Konta (ST).

As many as 5,304 polling booths have been set up for the first phase of polling. In the first phase, the political fate of 223 candidates, including 25 women, will be decided by an estimated 40,78,681 voters, including 19,93,937 males, 20,84,675 females, and 69 third-gender persons.

The Model Code of Conduct has already come into effect in Chhattisgarh.

Around 60,000 security personnel will be on duty for the proper execution of the elections in the Bastar division, consisting of 12 Assembly segments. This force comprises 40,000 personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and 20,000 from the state police. The security team will also include members of the elite anti-Naxal unit CoBRA and women commandos.

For security reasons, as many as 149 polling stations in Bijapur, Narayanpur, Antagarh, Dantewada, and Konta Assembly constituencies have been relocated to the closest police stations and security camps.

5:31 PM

Polling officials return on a helicopter from Naxal-hit area

Polling officials return on a helicopter from Naxal-hit area in Chhattisgarh, where voting was held today. 
 

5:25 PM

Former CM Raman Singh casts his vote in Naxal-affected Kawardha

5:23 PM

30% share of CM Baghel in Mahadev betting app case, says Raman Singh

3:34 PM

Naxals open fire at security personnel near Banda polling station

Naxals opened fire at the District Rerserve Guard (DRG) personnel deployed near the Banda polling station on Tuesday. The Sukma police said that security forces retaliated, leading to a 10-minute exchange of fire before the Naxals stopped their attack. The personnel were deployed in the outer cordon, around 2 km away from the Banda polling state.

 

 

3:31 PM

We are fighting election on basis of development, says Congress leader Mohammad Akbar

While visiting a polling booth in Kawardha, Congress leader and Chhattisgarh minister Mohammad Akbar said, "We are fighting the elections on the basis of development and the work we have done from 2018 to 2023."

3:28 PM

Three security personnel injured in Naxal attack in Sukma

2:32 PM

PM’s free ration scheme extension is ‘blatant violation’ of poll code: Congress

The Congress said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of a five-year extension of the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana was a “blatant violation” of the model code of conduct as it was made in the midst of the Chhattisgarh election campaign.

1:52 PM

Farmers' loans will be waived off, says Priyanka Gandhi at Balod

At an election rally in Balod, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi said, "Loans of farmers of Chhattisgarh will be waived off. Education will be free from KG (kindergarten) to PG (postgraduate). All government schools will be upgraded to "Atma Nand" schools. Free electricity up to 200 units will be provided."

 

1:20 PM

Encounter between STF, Naxals near Orchha police station

An encounter broke out between the Special Task Force (STF) and Naxals in the forest area near Orchha police station. STF personnel are safe as Naxals fled amid the encounter, and the area is being searched. 

An official said, “STF personnel are safe as Naxals fled amid the encounter. The area is being searched. The viral information circulating on social media about polling booths being gheraoed by the Naxals is wrong and voting is going on.”

1:10 PM

Voters turn in large numbers in Kabirdham

1:02 PM

Man caught by ED has a photo of Raman Singh, says CM Bhupesh Baghel

12:54 PM

Women voters turn up in high numbers in Sukma district

12:52 PM

Congress will win 18 or 19 seats this time, says CM Bhupesh Baghel

Reacting to former CM Raman Singh's statement that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will win 14 out of 20 seats, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said, "He (Raman Singh) is not going to save his own seat. We had won 17 seats out of 20 last time, this time we will win 18 or 19 seats."

He said, "As Ajit Pawar joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), his name was removed from the ED... Himanta Biswa Sarma is CM now, his name was in Saradha Chit Fund corruption... There are many examples like this where, after being washed in "Modi Washing Powder", all the stains are cleaned. "

 

12:33 PM

Congress candidate Deepak Baij casts his vote in Chitrakot

12:32 PM

600 polling booths in high security zone in Bastar, says Bastar IG Sundarraj P

"Elaborate security arrangements have been made for smooth voting process. Out of over 2,900 polling booths, 600 polling booths are considered to be in the high security zone in Bastar region. A three-layer security cordon has been prepared for these polling booths," said Sundarraj P, Inspector General of Police, Bastar.