Raipur: Amid heavy security arrangements, polling on 72 assembly seats of second and last phase of polls in Chhattisgarh has begun. Except two polling centres, the voting began at 8 am and will last till 5 pm in remaining centres.
According to information received from the office of Chief Electoral Officer, polling has begun at 7 am in two centres in remote Naxal-infested centres of Brindavangarh assembly constituency of Gariaband district due to security reasons.
The polling in these two centres will conclude at 3 pm in the evening.Among 13 districts where polling for 2nd phase is being held, Mahasamund, Garbiaband, Dhamtari, Kawardha and Balrampur districts have been affected by Naxalism. Tight security arrangements have been made in these places.
Total 1079 candidates including 119 women are trying their luck in this phase of elections.
Among them 113 candidates belong to scheduled caste and 176 belong to scheduled tribe. Out of 19336 polling centres that have been set up for second and last phase, 444 are considered sensitive.
For women 118 Sangwari polling centres have been opened. All polling team members in Sangwari centres, are women. More than 1 crore 54 lakh 596 voters are exercising their franchise in this phase.
Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure peaceful conduct of polling. About 600 companies of Central and State Police Forces have been deployed. State Armed Police Force and STF too have been deployed.
More over 72 observers and 19 police observers have been deployed. More than 84 thousand employees and officials have been put on duty for conducting polling.(UNI)