Chitrakot all set for polls today under heavy security
   Date :21-Oct-2019
Polling parties moving out for their respective polling stations from Dharampura Poly-technique college under the strict supervision of security forces.
 
The Hitavada State Bureau :
 
Jagdalpur/Raipur,
 
Polling for the by-election in the Left Wing Extremism affected 87-Chitrakot (ST) Assembly constituency will be held on Monday amidst tight security. Altogether 916 polling personnel have been deployed for ensuring smooth polling through 229 polling booths including 213 booths in Bastar and 16 in Sukma districts. Dispatching of polling parties for their respective polling booths commenced on Sunday at 6.30am from Dharampura Poly-technique college, under the strict supervision of security forces. Around 8,000 security personnel have been deployed throughout the constituency for ensuring a safe as well as free and fair by-poll.
 
The polling for 87-Chitrakot (ST) Assembly constituency, where by-election is being conducted after sitting Congress MLA Deepak Baij resigned on being elected to Lok Sabha from Bastar Parliamentary constituency, will be held on October 21, 2019, Monday, from 8 am till 5 pm. In order to ensure smooth as well as free and fair election, 58 micro observers have been deployed in 58 sensitive booths. The whole Assembly constituency has been divided into 37 sectors and accordingly, 37 sector officers have been appointed for survey of all these sectors. These sector officers have been empowered with the power of Special Executive Magistrate in their respective sectors.
 
The contest is mainly between the Bhartiya Janata Party and the Indian National Congress although the contest will be interesting as altogether six candidates are in fray for Chitrakot (ST) Assembly by-poll. As many as 1,67,722 voters including 79,218 male, 88,503 female and one from third gender, will be exercising their franchise in the constituency during the by-poll. The Bharatiya Janata Party has fielded Lachuram Kashyap for 87-Chitrakot (ST) Legislative Assembly by-election while the Indian National Congress has fielded Rajman Benzam, a new face.
 
Also in the fray are Bomda Mandavi from Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J); Hidmoram Mandavi from Communist Party of India (CPI); Lakheshwar Kawasi from Ambedkarite Party of India while Ritik Karma has filed his nomination as an Independent candidate. Of these, 229 polling booths, 70 are hyper sensitive booths while 93 have been categorised as sensitive booths. Eight Adarsh and five Sangwari polling booths will be set up this time. During the polling process, web-casting will be carried out from 22 polling booths. Keeping in view the threat perception and other difficulties, the Election Commission has decided to shift five polling booths.
 
These include 01-Bodeli to 03-Erpund primary school Room No-2; 11-Sulenga to 12-Sataspur primary school Room No-2; 99-Korangali to 98-Birgali primary school Room No-2; 212-Kudumkcho to 211-Bispur Balak Ashram Bhawan Room No-2; and 213-Kalepal to 211- Bispur Balak Ashram Bhawan Room No-3. Election Commission of India has issued a list of alternative 11 IDs which can be used during polling in the bye-election being held at Dantewada Assembly constituency apart from Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC). Accordingly, the list of eleven documents include Passport, Driving License, Service Identity Cards with photograph issued to employees by Central/State Government/PSUs/Public Limited Companies, Passbooks with photograph issued by Bank/Post Office, PAN Card, Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR, MNREGA Job Card, Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour, Pension document with photograph, official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs and Aadhaar Card.