2nd phase of polling in Chhattisgarh today; security is stepped up

■ 19,296 polling booths have been set up for the second phase ◗ The fate of nine ministers, assembly speaker and some other prominent leaders of the BJP and Congress will be decide in the polls.

Raipur, Nov 19: All arrangements have been made for the second and final phase of the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections to be held in 72 seats of 19 districts on Tuesday amid tight security, with the deployment of over one lakh police personnel.

The fate of nine ministers, assembly speaker and some other prominent leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP) as well as of the Congress will be decide in the polls.

In the first phase, polling was held in 18 seats of eight Naxalaffected districts on November 12.

Eyeing a fourth consecutive term, the BJP has set a target of winning 65 plus seats in the 90- member Assembly, while the Congress is seeking to end its 15- year exile from power in the tribal- dominated state.

The coalition between the Mayawati- led Bahujan Samaj Party ( BSP), former chief minister Ajit Jogi’s Janata Congress Chhattisgarh and the Communist Party of India ( CPI) has added a twist to the poll battle.

For the second phase of polls, there are 1,53,85,983 voters, including 77,46,628 men, 76,38,415 women and 940 of the third gender.

As many as 19,296 polling booths have been set up for the second phase, the official said.

The highest number of 46 contestants are in the Raipur City South constituency, while the lowest number of six contestants are in the Bindranavagarh seat.

Over one lakh security personnel have been deployed to ensure peaceful polling, a police official said.