Image: IANS

Updated on Nov 7, at 6.30 p.m.

Mizoram Elections: 76% voting in single-day poll

Reportedly, more than 76% of the 8.57 lakh voters cast their votes today at the end of polling for the Mizoram Assembly in all the 40 constituencies of the hill state under heavy security cover, officials said.

Mizoram additional chief electoral officer H Lianzela said at 4 p.m., “Voting like previous years has been peaceful, incident-free and there has been no law and order-related problem till now”.

Chhattisgarh Elections: Clashes at three places, 70% voting till 5 p.m.

Gunfights between security forces and Maoists were reported in at least three places during the first phase of voting in Chhattisgarh today. A couple of personnel from the security forces were reported to have been injured in the exchange of fire.

The first incident occurred in Sukma when a group of Naxals tried to disrupt the electoral process at one of the polling booths. The second exchange of fire was reported in Kanker area and a jawan was reported to have been injured during the firing. As per information, the third incident occurred in Bijapur district and during the exchange of fire some people got injured and one CRPF jawan was also hurt.

As per the Election Commission, Chhattisgarh recorded a voter turnout of 70% till 5 p.m.

Updated on Nov 7, at 12.24 p.m.

The voting for the Mizoram Assembly elections and for 20 seats in the first phase of the Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh began today with around 17.18% voter turnout recorded till 9 a.m. in Mizoram and 9.93% in the latter state.

Mizoram assembly polls

Around 17.18% voter turnout was recorded until 9 a.m. today in the Mizoram Assembly polls conducted in all 40 constituencies amid tight security, election officials said.

According to the officials, there have been no reports of any untoward incidents so far.

EVM snags

“EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines) were not functioning properly in a few polling stations initially, causing some delay in balloting. The officials replaced the EVMs expeditiously, and voting resumed,” an election official said.

Chief minister Zoramthanga also could not cast his vote in his first attempt due to the snag in the EVM at the Ramhlun Venglai Primary School polling station in the Aizawl North II constituency and returned home.

However, Zoramthanga, also the president of the Mizo National Front (MNF), cast his vote later and told the media that he is confident that the MNF will again form the government in the hill state for a second consecutive term.

The 79-year-old veteran militant leader turned politician is seeking re-election from the Aizawl East-1 seat for a record seventh time.

Mizoram governor Hari Babu Kambhampati also cast his vote at the Venghlui government primary school polling station under the Aizawl South-1 constituency.

With favourable weather conditions, men and women in large numbers queued up in front of polling stations before the voting at 40 Assembly seats started at 7 a.m.

The polling would continue in 1,276 polling stations across the mountainous state until 4 p.m. without any break.

All 8,57,063 voters, including 4,39,026 females, will decide the electoral fate of 174 candidates, including 16 women.

MNF, the state’s main opposition, the Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), and Congress have fielded candidates in 40 seats each, while the Aam Aadmi Party is contesting four seats and 27 independent candidates are also in the fray.

The BJP has fielded candidates in 23 seats with a special focus on linguistic minority-inhabited areas, especially where the Reang and Chakma tribal communities are in reasonable numbers on the voters' list.

Additional chief electoral officer, H Lianzela, said that 4,832 polling personnel have been engaged to conduct the balloting in 1,276 voting centres across 11 districts.

A senior police officer said that security has been tightened across the state, especially along the international borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Mizoram shares a 510-km porous border with Myanmar and a 318-km border with Bangladesh.

At least 3,000 policemen and 5,400 personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces have been deployed for the polls, the official said.

Chhattisgarh phase-1 polls

Voting for 20 seats in the first phase of Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh was underway today with 9.93% polling recorded till 9 a.m., said the election commission. 

All the 20 seats are considered high sensitive zones as these fall in the Maoists-affected areas of the state.    

A total of 230 candidates, including former chief minister Raman Singh and two incumbent ministers are in fray. These 20 Assembly seats are tribal dominated areas and a direct clash between the ruling Congress and the rival BJP is being witnessed.

Around 40.78 lakh voters will decide the fate of 230 candidates, of whom 198 are male and 28 women.

The 20 seats in first phase election are  Pandariya, Kawardha, Khairagarh, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Khujji, Mohla-Manpur, Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Keshkal, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Bastar, Jagdalpur, Chitrakot, Dantewada, Bijapur and Konta.

There are a total of 90 legislative Assembly seats in Chhattisgarh, of which 20 seats will be witnessing the polls in the first phase, while the remaining 70 seats will undergo polling on Nov 17.

Elections, a challenge due to terror

Maoists have tried to disrupt the election multiple times through their attacks on party workers and security forces. On Nov 6, a commando of CRPF was injured after an IED blast was triggered by Maoists in Sukma district. 

A local BJP leader was hacked to death by a group of Maoists in Narayanpur district three days ago. The BJP leader was identified as Ratan Dube. He was hit by a sharp axe which led to his death. 

Prime minister Narendra Modi requested the people of Mizoram and Chhatisgarh to vote in record numbers.

(Source: IANS)

-Edited for style

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