Violence disrupts polling in Chhattisgarh

Raipur, Nov 14 : The polling process in at least six booths in Chhattisgarh's Bastar division was disrupted today due to looting of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

The Election Commission has been urged to order a re-poll in these booths.

Polling was underway in 39 of the total 90 constituencies in the first phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly election.

According to sources, the Maoist naxalites looted EVMs at Hagrawa village in Dantewada district after triggering a blast near the polling booth.

Three EVMs along with poll materials had been looted from Sangam, Chote-Biteya and Regawahi booths under Antagarh assembly segment in Kanker disrict, sources added.

The political future of State Chief Minister Raman Singh, State Assembly Speaker Prem Prakash Pandey, Leader of Opposition Mahendra and former Congress minister Ravindra Choubey will be decided in these polls. Singh is among 383 candidates who will be in the fray in the first phase.

Chhattisgarh assembly elections are being held in two phases. In the first phase, 39 assembly seats from 10 districts will go for polls on November 14. The second phase will witness polls for 51 seats from 8 districts on November 20. The votes will be counted on December 8.

The notification for first phase of elections was issued on October 20 and the last date to file nominations was October 27. November 1 was declared the last date for withdrawal of nominations.

ANI