Chhattisgarh: 900 officials and security personnel air-dropped to polling stations to ensure safety

As Chhattisgarh goes to vote in the first phase of the assembly election, as many as 900 officials along with security personnel were air-lifted and dropped to their polling stations to ensure their safety.

Nearly 900 polling personnel have been air-dropped from helicopters so that they can reach safely. Over 16,500 polling personnel went by-road. I think all will be in a position to deliver peaceful elections: Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat on #ChhattisgarhElections2018 pic.twitter.com/hx9b5CZkLn

— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2018

The first phase elections are being conducted in 18 assembly seats in Chhattisgarh’s Maoist-affected areas across seven districts in Naxal-affected Bastar region and Rajnandgaon district. Chief Minister Raman Singh is contesting from Rajnandgaon where Congress has fielded Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s niece Karuna Shukla against him. Raman Singh will be fighting to secure his fourth term as the Chief Minister of state.

Reportedly, the officials of Election Commission of India along with the state administration have deployed 100,000 security personnel and election officials, who are being air-dropped from helicopters to their polling stations to ensure their safety. In the first phase, 190 candidates are in the fray and as per electoral rolls, there are 31,80,014 voters.

The first phase to elect members to Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly will be held today, while the second phase will be held on November 20th. The results of Chattisgarh polls will be declared along with other five state election results on December 11.