68 per cent voting in 1st phase of panchayat polls in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: An estimated 68 per cent of the electorate today exercised its franchise in the first phase of panchayat elections in Chhattisgarh with Naxals disrupting the poll process at 32 polling booths in Bastar region.

"An average 68 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the first phase in 54 development blocks," said State Election Commissioner P C Dalei.

The Naxal-affected Bastar division witnessed a low 47 per cent polling while rest of the regions registered 75 per cent polling. The highest turnout of 87 per cent was recorded in Durg district followed by Balrampur 86 per cent, Dhamtari and Koriya 83 per cent, Gariyaband 82 per cent and Janjgir-Champa 80 per cent.

The Naxal-affected Dantewada witnessed the lowest turnout of 28 per cent.

Rajnandgaon registered 76 per cent voting, Raipur 63 per cent, Bilaspur and Bastar 71 and 66 per cent respectively.

"Barring looting of polling material including ballot boxes at 32 polling booths in Maoist-hit Sukma, Kanker, Dantewada and Kondagaon districts and few incidents of firing, the election was peaceful," Dalei said.

Polling material was looted from booths at Hamirgarh, Kunna and Kundanpal and Kushguna in Sukma, six booths in Antagarh region, a booth in Kayalibeda region of Kanker district and six polling booths in Katekalyan region of Dantewada district, he said.

In Kondagaon district, ballot boxes were looted at two polling stations of Nawagaon and five of Haredi area.

"No harm to polling staff and security personnel was reported in these incidents," he said.