Assembly Elections 2023: Chhattisgarh reports 71 per cent voter turnout, Mizoram 77 per cent

The Mizoram assembly elections passed off peacefully on Tuesday with over 77 per cent of 8. 57 lakh electors exercising their franchise, officials said.

Chhattisgarh reported 71 per cent voter turnout in 20 constituencies, while Mizoram saw 77 per cent turnout till 5 pm.

A groom reached a polling station in Naxal-affected Narayanpur in Chhattisgarh to cast his vote.

The voting has concluded in most parts of Naxal-affected Kawardha in Kabirdham district of Chhattisgarh, said the poll officials.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra claimed the BJP-led Centre has handed over assets of the country to big industrialists. Addressing an election rally in Balod district of Chhattisgarh, she said the caste census will help in giving equal representation to every section of societies and draft policies for their welfare.

Chhattisgarh recorded 59.19 per cent voter turnout till 3 pm, while Mizoram received 69.86 per cent.

Women voters outnumbered men in 16 out of the 20 Assembly where polling is being held in the first phase in Chhattisgarh. According to officials, the total number of voters in the 20 constituencies is 40,78,681, comprising 19,93,937 men, 20,84,675 women and 69 third-gender persons. "In 16 seats, namely Mohla-Manpur, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Keshkal, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, Konta, Rajnandgaon, Khujji, Pandariya, Kawardha, Bastar, Jagdalpur and Chitrakot, there are more women voters than men," a poll official said, as per PTI. 

As of 1 pm, the voter turnout in Chhattisgarh was at 44.55 per cent and 52.73 per cent in Mizoram. 

Chhattisgarh: An encounter broke out between the Special Task Force (STF) and Naxals in the forest area near Orchha police station in Narayanpur. "STF personnel are safe as Naxals fled amid the encounter. The area is being searched," the police state. 

As voting for the first phase of the Chhattisgarh polls is underway, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reiterated the party's "guarantees" to the people and called for the return of its "trustworthy" government in the state. In a post in Hindi on X, Rahul Gandhi said, "When you exercise your franchise, remember, Congress' trustworthy government once again in Chhattisgarh." "Congress's guarantee to Chhattisgarh: Farmers loan waiver; purchase of 20 quintal/acre paddy; Rs 10,000/year to the landless; Rs 3,200 MSP on paddy; Rs 6,000/sack on tendu leaves; Rs 4000/year bonus for Tendupatta; 200 units electricity free; Rs 500 subsidy on gas cylinder; free education from KG to PG; free treatment up to Rs 10 lakh; housing for 17.5 lakh families; caste census. Whatever we promise, we deliver" the former Congress president asserted.

Amid ongoing polling in Chhattisgarh, Naxals fired at DRG personnel deployed for the outer cordon in the state. According to Sukma Police, the incident occurred around 2 kilometres away from Banda polling station this morning. The security forces retaliated and the firing from the Naxals' side stopped after 10 minutes. All the jawans are safe and voting is underway, they added. 

Nearly 22.97 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 11 am in 20 constituencies during the first phase of Chhattisgarh assembly elections. Polling is being held under a thick security blanket of police and paramilitary personnel, who kept a tight vigil in the seats in the Naxalite-hit Bastar division. Meanwhile, around 26.43 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 11 am in Mizoram. 

After casting his vote, Bastar IG P Sundarraj said that polling is being held in 12 Assembly constituencies of the Bastar division. He further stated that adequate security arrangements have been made in all areas. "We have special security forces too. Arrangements are in place to ensure that all voters cast their votes in a safe environment. We appeal to the people to exercise their franchise safely," the IG added. 

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel said that Naxalism has retreated to a great extent owing to the work done by his government in the last five years. "As a result, polling booths have been set up inside villages. People will vote in their village itself. There is a possibility of high voting percentage in naxal-affected areas," he stated. The Chief Minister further claimed that the Chhattisgarh Congress has always stood for the welfare of the common people. 

As polling got underway for the Mizoram assembly polls, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge urged the people of the state to vote in large numbers and "usher in change". Kharge said the people of Mizoram are looking towards protecting their culture, customs, land, forest and the Mizo way of life. "Today is the time to choose it. Welcome our first-time voters to participate in this democratic process for a better future. Urge our sisters and brothers of Mizoram to participate in large numbers and usher in change," Kharge wrote on 'X'.  

Nearly 10 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 9.30 am in 20 constituencies during the first phase of Chhattisgarh assembly elections. And 12.80 in Mizoram.

BJP leader and former Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh claimed that his party is winning a minimum of 14 seats in the first phase. "BJP is winning a minimum of 14 seats out of 20 in the first phase...Both phases will be good, and the BJP will form the government with a complete majority. There is an enormous undercurrent for the BJP in Chhattisgarh," he stated. 

Former Women and Child Development Minister of Chhattisgarh, Lata Usendi today cast her vote in Kondagoan from where she is the BJP Candidate. After exercising her franchise, the former Minister attacked the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government in the state. Slamming the grand old party for its involvement in corruption, Usendi said that the only party that can take the state forward is the BJP. 

101-year-old Pu Rualhnudala and his wife Pi Thanghleithluaii (86) cast their valuable votes at 24/18 Ruantlang PS under the 24-Champhai South Assembly Constituency. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to people in Mizoram to come out and vote in record numbers.

Voters were seen standing in a queue to cast their votes at a model polling station in Sarona under Kanker Assembly Constituency in Chhattisgarh. The state, which has a 90-member house is undergoing elections in two phases, with the second phase scheduled for November 17.

Chhattisgarh Minister and Congress candidate from Konta Assembly Constituency, Kawasi Lakhma cast his vote at polling booth number 36 in the Konta Assembly constituency. "We are fighting on the issue of development, security and peace. Several development works have been done here in the last 5 years. I won from a margin of  6,700 votes and this year, I will win with a bigger margin," he told the media after casting his vote. 

K Sapdanga, working president of ZPM (Zoram People's Movement) and party's candidate for Aizawl North-III constituency cast his vote today morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged voters in Mizoram to exercise their franchise as the two states go to polls to elect members of their respective assembly. 

Mizoram State Congress chief Lalsawta cast his vote at a polling station in Mission Vengthlang of Aizawl. The ruling Mizo National Front (MNF), main opposition Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) and Congress have fielded candidates in all the seats. The BJP is contesting in 23 constituencies, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has nominated candidates in four assembly segments.

As the polling for the first phase of the election is underway in Chhattisgarh, voters were seen standing in a queue outside a polling booth in the Sukma Assembly Constituency to cast their votes. According to a poll official, women voters have outnumbered men in 16 out of the 20 assembly seats where polling is being held today.

Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati cast his vote at a polling booth in Aizawl South - II. Of the 1,276 polling stations across Mizoram, 149 are remote voting centres, and 30 along the inter-state and international borders have been declared critical and vulnerable. The 510-km-long international border with Myanmar and the 318-km boundary with Bangladesh have been sealed ahead of the polling of assembly constituencies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the people to vote in large numbers as the first phase of polling is underway in Chhattisgarh. The pooling is also underway in Mizoram to elect 40 members of the state legislative assembly.  "Today is the sacred festival of democracy in Chhattisgarh. I request all the voters of the first phase of assembly elections to cast their votes and become participants of this festival. On this occasion, my special congratulations to all the young friends of the state who are voting for the first time!" he wrote on X.

In another post, the PM stated, "I call upon the people of Mizoram to vote in record numbers. I particularly urge the young and first-time voters to exercise their franchise and strengthen the festival of democracy." 

BJP candidate from Narayanpur, Kedar Kashyap casts his vote for the Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023 at polling booth number 212 in Bhanpuri Assembly Constituency. Speaking to the media, he claimed that people want to remove the incumbent Chhattisgarh government from the state. "A large number of people are present here to cast their votes which shows that people in the state want to remove the Congress government from Chhattisgarh. I would like to appeal to everyone to cast maximum votes for BJP," Kashyap added.

Mizoram elections Chief Minister and MNF president Zoramthanga could not cast his vote because of some malfunction in the voting machine.  "Because the machine was not working. I was voting for some time. But since the machine could not work I said that I will visit my constituency and vote after the morning meet," he told news agency ANI. 

Manipur Chief Minister and MNF president Zoramthanga exuded confidence in retaining the power in the state. He claimed that the MNF would form the government in the state once again and that there would not be a hung assembly. "BJP is not an alliance partner. NDA is there in the Centre. Here in the state, we don't have any alliance with BJP or any other party...We are only a partner of the NDA in the Centre, here in the state we support the NDA on issue-based," he added. 

The video shows an elderly man leaving after casting his vote for the Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023. Meanwhile, voters were also seen standing in a queue outside a polling booth in Bhanpuri Assembly Constituency Election to cast their votes.

Amid ongoing voting in Chhattisgarh, a jawan of the CRPF CoBRA Battalion injured in an IED blast triggered by Naxals in the Tondamarka area of Sukma. According to Sukma SP Kiran Chavan, the jawan was deployed for election duty. 

Chief Minister of Mizoram Zoramthanga reached 19-Aizawl Venglai-I YMA Hall polling station, under the Aizawl North-II assembly constituency, to cast his vote. The polling in the state will continue till 4 pm.

These are some key constituencies in Chhattisgarh 

• Patan
• Bharatpur-Sonhat 
• Ambikapur
• Kunkuri 
• Dantewada
• Antagarh
• Kawardha
• Durg Gramin
• Durg City
• Raipur City South
• Sakti
• Janjgir-Champa
• Lormi
• Pathalgaon
• Rajnandgaon

A look at some key constituencies in Mizoram as voting is underway to elect 40 members for the state legislative assembly. 

1. Hachhek
2. Thorang
3. Aizawl East 1
4.  Mamit
5. Serchhip
6. Dampa
7. Tuichang

In the first phase of polling in Chhattisgarh, the fate of 223 candidates, including 25 women, will be decided by an estimated 40,78,681 voters, comprising 19,93,937 male, 20,84,675 female and 69 third-gender persons. As many as 5304 polling booths have been set up for the first phase. A release issued from the office of the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) said 25,429 polling personnel have been deployed for the first phase of polls.

The voting for the Mizoram Assembly Elections has begun. About 8.57 lakh voters, including 4.39 lakh women, are eligible to exercise their franchise to decide the fate of 174 candidates in the 40 seats.

The voting for the first phase of Assembly elections has begun in Chhattisgarh. Twenty of the 90 assembly seats will be voting in the first phase of polls. Over 40 lakh electors will vote across 5,304 polling stations in the first phase. 

Mizoram Assembly Election Results 2018:

Total Seats: 40 (Majority: 21)

Vote Share:

• MNF: 37.70%
• Congress: 29.98%
• BJP: 8.09%
• Independents: 22.94%

Mizoram Assembly Election Results 2018: Have a look 

Total Seats: 40 (Majority: 21)

Seat Share:

• MNF: 27
• Congress: 04
• BJP: 01
• Independents: 08

From 8 am to 5 pm: These ten Assembly constituencies will vote in Chhattisgarh

• Pandariya
• Kawardha
• Khairagarh
• Dongargarh
• Rajnandgaon
• Dongargaon
• Khujji
• Jagdalpur
• Chitrakoot
• Bastar

From 7 am to 3 pm: These ten assembly constituencies will vote in Chhattisgarh 

• Mohla-Manpur
• Antagarh
• Bhanupratappur
• Konkar
• Keshkal
• Kondagaon
• Narayanpur
• Dantewada
• Bijapur
• Konta

Chhattisgarh Assembly Election Results 2018: 

Total Seats: 90 (Majority: 46)

Vote Share:

• Congress: 43.04%
• BJP: 32.97%
• JCC: 7.61%
• BSP: 3.87%
• Independents: 5.88%

Chhattisgarh Assembly Election Results 2018: Have a look

Total Seats: 90 (Majority: 46)

Seat Share:

• Congress: 68
• BJP: 15
• JCC: 05
• BSP: 02
• Independents: 00