100 polling parties yet to return from naxalite region

Raipur, Nov 16 (UNI) Two days after polling across 39 assembly constituencies in the first phase of Chhattisgarh elections, 100 polling parties were still to return from polling stations in naxalite-affected Bastar division.

Over 300 polling parties had returned from the booths of the Bastar division by 1500 hours today.

State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Alok Shukla today said these 100 polling parties had not returned to the headquarters due to inclement weather.

''Helicopters have been pressed into the service to bring back these polling parties from the dense forest areas,'' he said.

These polling parties include 56 parties from Antagarh assembly seat, followed by 28 from Kanker, eight from Bhanupratapur, five from Bijapur and three from Narayanpur assembly seats.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission had yesterday announced repolling in 32 booths of the Bastar division where polling was held in the first phase on November 14.

However, the date of the repolling was yet to be announced.

UNI MB PS 1707