Chhattisgarh panchayat polls: Turnout increases, no reports of Maoist violence

Chhattisgarh police officers claimed that no Maoist violence was reported during the polling process.

Updated on: Feb 6, 2020, 18:42:09 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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Chhattisgarh recorded 83.55 percent voter turnout in the three-tier panchayat polls which concluded on January 3, which was 5.7 percent more than the 2014-15 panchayat polls, state election commissioner said on Thursday.

Polling officials collecting the Electronic Voting Machine (EVMs) and other necessary inputs required for polls. (ANI Photo/Representative Picture)

Chhattisgarh police officers claimed that no Maoist violence was reported during the polling process.

The seven Maoist-affected districts of Bastar region witnessed 10.51 per cent increase in polling percentage in comparison to 2014-15. Bastar recorded a 69.97 percent turnout this year.

State election commissioner, Thakur Ram Singh said that in 27 districts a total of 175768 representatives were elected including panchs and sarpanchs.

“Total 70028 posts were elected unopposed including panch - 69408 , sarpanches - 524 and janpad members - 95,” said Thakur.

“In the Bastar region, a total of 353 poll centres were transferred to other protected areas in the districts”, Thakur said, adding that a total of 34 election observers were appointed .

Thakur further claimed that compared to the previous Panchayat polls the electoral process was peaceful.

“This is the first election where no Maoist violence took place in the Bastar region,which reflects the trust of tribals on police and government,” said director general of police ( DGP) DM Awasthi.

Awasthi further said that in 2015, 53 instances of Maoist violence were reported from the Bastar region which included the attacks on polling parties in Kanker and Sukma districts as well as attacks on security forces.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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