Chhattisgarh

Polling for the remaining constituencies began at 8 am.

More than 100,000 security personnel were deployed and helicopters were pressed into service to airlift polling staff to booths.

Voting was delayed in 53 polling stations of the 4,336 booths due to technical reasons. However , elsewhere it was smooth, with people waiting in long queues to vote, Election Commission sources said.

At least six attacks by suspected Maoists, who have asked people to boycott the elections, have killed 14 people, including a Doordarshan cameraperson covering the elections, in the past 15 days.

“The first phase of polling is very important for both parties. The pattern and polling will reflect the political mood in Chhattisgarh,” said Raipurbased political commentator Ashok Tomar.

Hours before polling, state Congress vice-president Ghanaram Sahu on Sunday night resigned from the party, the second senior leader to quit ahead of elections. He joined the BJP. Kharge is part of the panel as the leader of the largest opposition party in Parliament’s Lower House.

Verma and Asthana were divested of their responsibilities last month after engaging in a public feud trading corruption charges against each other. Asthana has moved a separate petition in the top court, and sought removal of Verma as CBI chief.