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Chhattisgarh reported a voter turnout of 71.93 per cent, which is expected to increase by another 2-3 per cent when the final figures are collated in the second and final phase of voting in the sState, senior officials of the Election Commission said on Tuesday. During the 2013 Assembly Elections, the sState had reported a voter turnout of 71.13 per cent in the second phase.
Seventy-two of the 90 Assembly constituencies in the State went to polls in the second phase.
The State has reported a voter turnout of 74.17 per cent in both the phases, which is expected increase, Umesh Sinha, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner said at a press conference. Sinha said “the second phase concluded smoothly and peacefully with an enthusiastic turnout from various sections, including the youth.”
In the second phase, districts such as Gariaband, Dhamtari, Mahasamund, Kabirdham, Jashpur and Balrampur faced polls. These are the Naxal-affected areas which were under high vigilance, an official told the media.
Polls were held in eight districts in the State during the first phase on November 12, the remaining 19 districts faced the polls on Tuesday.
EVM malfunction
Election Commission officials said there were no “malafide intentions” on the part of a sector officer who took the electronic voting machine (EVM) to his house to have lunch. The Congress complained against the sector officer. Election Commission officials said after the complaint was received, the machine was deposited in the strong room by the sub-divisional magistrate and the sector officer was replaced by the deputy engineer.
Election Commission officials added that the replacement rate of EVMs and Verifiable Voter Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines was the lowest in these elections. Officials said only 1.86 per cent of the VVPATs were replaced.
Value of seizures
With the polls coming to an end , the Commission said the value of the seizures made by the authorities during the elections is estimated to be ₹12.9 crore and includes seizure of cash worth ₹4.48 crore, liquor worth ₹1.77 crore and drugs and narcotics worth ₹2 lakhs. Authorities routinely carry out search and seizure operations during elections to curb the use of money power by political parties to try and influence the electorate.
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