Assembly Elections 2023 Live Updates: Chhattisgarh Reports 71% Voter Turnout, Mizoram Sees 77% Polling

A total of 71.11% voters exercised their franchise in the first phase of state Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, according to the Election Commission of India. The voter turnout in Mizoram stood at 77.5%.

• Chhattisgarh (Phase 1): 70.87%

• Mizoram: 75.68%

Former Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh cast his vote in Naxal-affected Kawardha in Chhattisgarh today.

Elections in Chhattisgarh are being fought on the issues of five years of Bhupesh government's corruption, their false promises and holding back development," the BJP leader said, reported PTI.

Four security personnel injured in encounter with Naxalites near Minpa village in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, said police, reported PTI.

Twenty of Chhattisgarh's 90 seats are voting today. Twelve of them are located in the Maoist-hit Bastar region, and tight security arrangements have been made. Around 60,000 security personnel have been deployed in this zone. In 2018, the Congress has won 17 of the 20 seats and the BJP won two.

• Chhattisgarh (Phase 1): 59.19%

• Mizoram: 69.87%

In Mizoram, Chief Minister Zoramthanga was unable to cast his vote because the electronic voting machine was not working. He told news agency ANI that he would cast his vote later in the day.

Voters in Chhattisgarh exercised their franchise in the first phase of state Assembly elections. Here are a few districts which saw healthy turnout.

Five states—Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana—will hold elections for their respective Legislative Assemblies in November. These polls are being Closely monitored for they fall months ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

Here's why elections in these five states are important, and how they will impact India's markets.

A total of 44.55% voters exercised their franchise in the first phase of state Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh by 1:00 p.m., according to the Election Commission of India. The voter turnout in Mizoram stood at 52.73%.

Naxals fired at DRG security personnel deployed for outer cordon around two kilometres away from Banda polling station, informed police authorities in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. The two sides exchanged fire, with Naxals stopping after 10 minutes. All security personnel are safe and voting is underway, police sources said.

Source: ANI

A total of 22.97% voters exercised their franchise in the first phase of state Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh by 11:00 a.m., according to the Election Commission of India. The voter turnout in Mizoram stood at 27.72%.

The first phase of state Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh recorded 9.93% voter turnout by 9:00 a.m., according to the Election Commission of India. Meanwhile, Mizoram saw 17.21% voter turnout by this time.

Voting began across polling booths in 20 seats of Chhattisgarh and 40 seats of Mizoram. This is the first phase of state Assembly election in the former, whereas the latter will see a single-phase of polling.

Polling personnel, equipped with the required paraphernalia, departed for their designated polling stations in Chhattisgarh and Mizoram on Monday. The Election Commission of India shared images of the dispersal process in the two states.

Voting for state Assembly elections will begin shortly in both states.

Twenty out of 90 Assembly constituencies in Chhattisgarh will go to polls on Tuesday. A total of 223 candidates are in the electoral fray in the first phase, which will see around 40.79 lakh voters cast their ballot.

Voting will happen across 5,304 polling booths in the first phase. The Election Commission has deployed over 25,000 polling personnel for it, while 60,000 security personnel will oversee smooth conduct of polls in 12 constituencies of the Naxal-infested Bastar division, PTI reported.

Voting will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Mohla-Manpur, Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Keshkal, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur and Konta. The remaining 10 seats in this phase—Khairagarh, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Khujji, Pandariya, Kawardha, Bastar, Jagdalpur and Chitrakot—will hold polls between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

More than 8.57 lakh voters will vote across 1,276 polling stations across Mizoram in the single-phase Assembly election. A total of 174 candidates, including 18 women, are contesting for 40 legislative seats in the hilly state. Votes can be cast from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The multi-faceted contest will see the ruling Mizo National Front, the main opposition party Zoram People's Movement and Congress fighting on all 40 seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded candidates in 23 seats, whereas the Aam Aadmi Party is trying its luck in four seats. There are 27 candidates, who are contesting as independents.

Security measures have been bolstered across the state, with around 3,000 policemen and a large contingent of Central Armed Police Forces in action, PTI reported. Assam Rifles is guarding the Myanmar border, while the BSF is looking after the border with Bangladesh. Meanwhile, the inter-state boundaries with three districts of Assam, two with Manipur and one with Tripura have also been sealed.

Chhattisgarh and Mizoram are the first of the five states that will hold Assembly elections this month. On Tuesday, the central Indian state will hold the first of two phases of polls for 20 seats. Meanwhile, the electorate in the northeastern state will cast their votes for the 40-seat Legislative Assembly.

The state polls—in Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana—are being seen as the precursor to the showdown in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Campaigning in Chhattisgarh and Mizoram stopped last week, while authorities bolstered security arrangements ahead of voting. Counting of votes will take place on Dec. 3.