Lok Sabha polls: Chandameta in Bastar votes for first time since Independence

Lok Sabha polls: Chandameta in Bastar votes for first time since Independence

As the first phase of the Lok Sabha polls kickstarted on Friday (Apr 19), Chhattisgarh’s Chandameta village cast its vote for the very first time since Independence.

This came days after the security forces successfully concluded the anti-Naxal operation in the state, killing at least 29 Naxals in Bastar, which was in the past also known as the hub of Red Terror.

The village, which was also known as a stronghold of Naxals, comprised 325 registered voters, including 162 women.

Earlier in the day, Bastar Inspector General of Police (IG) P Sundarraj said that people full of enthusiasm were seen queuing up outside polling booths amid a three-layer security cordon.

Bastar was the only one of the state’s 11 Lok Sabha constituencies that went into polls on the opening phase of the Lok Sabha polls on Friday (Apr 19).

“Robust and safe polling is being conducted in Baster in the first phase of the general elections today. Locals are arriving and queuing up outside polling booths with absolute confidence and without fear. Three-layered security arrangements were made in the area and additional forces were also put on standby. In border areas, special forces from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha helped us maintain security,” IG P Sundarraj said while speaking to news agency ANI.

The rest of the constituencies will go to polls on April 26 and May 7.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 9 of the 11 seats in the state in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, while the Congress secured only 2.

Deepak Baij of the Congress party won the polls in Bastar.

The first phase of voting includes 102 constituencies across 21 states in India. These regions include Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, Sikkim, Jammu and Kashmir, and Lakshadweep.

(With inputs from agencies)