2nd phase polling in Chhattisgarh witnesses 68 pc turnout

New Delhi, Nov 20 (UNI) The second phase of assembly elections covering 51 Legislative Assembly constituencies in Chhattisgarh witnessed over 68 per cent turn-out.

Deputy Election Commissioner Jai Prakash told newspersons here today that the election was more or less free from violence and any other major incident.

However, people in five polling stations spread over five assembly constituencies boycotted the polling process in protest against lack of any developmental work and non-fulfilment of their demands. These polling stations were 38-Pamgarh, 36-Chandrapur, 35-Sakti, 15-Raigarh and 19-Dhananjaypur, he added.

The Election Commission (EC) directed the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Chhattisgarh to file an FIR against the State Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh for carrying out election campaign in the prohibited areas using FM Channels violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). The EC has also directed the CEO to file FIR against the FM channels who were involved in this act.

Responding to questions Mr Prakash said there were two FM Channels -- Rangeela (104.8) and MY Channel (94.3) -- which have violated the EC code of conduct.

He also sdaid that the Commission utilised the services of senior NCC cadets and NSS students in conducting the second phase of polling in the state.

Also, a total of 300 companies of Central Para Military Forces were deployed for conducting the poll peacefully, he added.

The Commission had deployed 51 observers, one for each constituency, to keep a close watch on the situation. Besides, 2100 Micro Observers were also deployed for the smooth conduct of the election process. The EC also used 570 video observers for close monitoring of the election process, Mr Prakash informed.

Also, one Mr Gyayendra Upadhya has filed an FIR against one Mr Brij Lal Rathore at Bilaspur for his alleged role in the attack on the vehicle of the Congress candidate, he added.

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