61% turnout in Chhatisgarh polls

RAIPUR: Nearly 61 per cent of the 88 lakh voters exercised their franchise in 51 Assembly constituencies of Chhattisgarh which went to polls in the second and final phase on Thursday.

While 60 per cent turnout was reported in Raipur district, Raigarh, Korba and Jashpur registered a turnout of 65 per cent each.

In Bilaspur, 62 per cent of the voters cast their ballot, in Sarguja 60 per cent, 55 per cent in Koria , and 56 per cent in Janjgir and Chapa.

As many as 12,073 polling stations across the eight districts were set for the polling.

Electoral fortunes of 687 candidates were decided by 88,14,228-strong electorate. Prominent leaders in the electoral battle include former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, his wife Renu Jogi, BJP state president Vishnu Deo Sai, Congress state president Dhanendra Sahu, Deputy Speaker Badridhar Diwan and Home Minster Ram Vichar Netam.

55 per cent turnout was registered in the violence marred first phase of elections on Nov 14 for 39 constituencies of the 90-member Assembly.

A flight engineer was killed when an IAF helicopter on poll duty was attacked by Naxals who also gunned down a CRPF personnel during the first phase of polling. Two landmine blasts also injured four security men and over a dozen Electronic Voting Machines were looted.