Campaigning for second phase of polls in Chattisgarh ends

Congress leader Jogi is locked in a close contest with BJP's sitting MP Chandulal Sahu in Mahasamund seat, while BJP MLA and former minister Vikram Usendi is taking on Fulodevi Netam of Congress in Kanker.

Abhishek Singh is in the fray from Rajnandgaon seat, where his opponents include BSP's Anand Ram Sahu, SP's Seema Kaushik, CPI's Kadamchand Lalwani and AAP's Laxman Masturiya.

“The polling timing for five out of seven Assembly segments namely Sihawa, Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker and Keshkal of naxal-affected Kanker seat, will be between 7 AM and 3 PM, while the timing for Daundilohara Assembly seat is between 7 AM to 4 PM and that of Sanjari-Balod and Gunderdehi seats of this region between 7 AM and 6 PM,” Kujur said.

In naxal-affected Rajnandgaon seat, the polling at Pandariya, Kawardha, Khairagarh, Dongargarh, Dongargaon and Khujji Assembly segments, will be held between 7 AM and 6 PM, while the lone Maoist-hit seat of Mohla-Manpur under the Parliamentary constituency will be between 7 AM and 3 PM, theCEO said.

Similarly, in Mahasamund Lok Sabha seat, voting time in Bindranawagarh segment will be between 7 AM and 3 PM, while timing for rest of the Assembly segments is between 7 AM and 6 PM.

On poll preparedness, Kujur said as many as 56 web cameras and 1258 digital/video cameras are being installed at polling stations to monitor the process.