37% turnout in Chhattisgarh polls, voting on

RAIPUR: Around 37 per cent of the electorates exercised their franchise by 1330 hours on Thursday afternoon in the final phase of polling in Chhattisgarh for 51 assembly seats.

Polling for the second and final phase began at 0800 hours for 51 seats and will end at 1600 hours.

Around 38 per cent voters exercised their franchise in Raipur district by 1330 hours, Arvind Dixit, Deputy Chief Electoral officer, Chhattisgarh, said.

Bilaspur recorded 32 per cent, Raigarh - 36 per cent. In Korba district about 38 per cent people caste votes, where as about 40 per cent in Sarguja, 38 per cent in Jashpur, 35 percent in Koria and 35 per cent voters in Janjgir and Champa caste votes, Dixit said.

Officials with state election office informed that normal polling has been reported from all over the state in the morning hours.

There are 687 candidates in the electoral fray in eight districts of Chhattisgarh. A total of 88,14,228 are registered voters.

A state chief electoral official said two polling officials died of heart attack in Raipur district.

Both the officials had complained of uneasiness and a mild chest pain last night following which they were rushed to the hospital, where they breathed their last in the hospital, the official said.

Meanwhile, 56 polling officials from Korba district were today suspended by the District Electoral Officer, Korba, for negligence of duty.

Ashok Agrawal, DEO, Korba, said that the officials, including presiding officers and polling officers grade I, II and III, have been suspended for negligence in duty.

"These officials did not collect election materials nor did they reach their assigned polling booths... thus they have been suspended," he said.

Agrawal further said that alternate arrangements have been made and polling is going on smoothly.

There are 12,073 polling stations across the eight districts - Raipur, Bilaspur, Korba, Raigarh, Sarguja, Koria, Jashpur and Janjgir and Champa, where elections began amid tight security.

About 2608 booths have been classified as sensitive and 355 booths as hyper sensitive.