Campaigning for Rajnandgaon, Mahasamund & Kanker constituencies ended at 5 pm on Tuesday After some hectic campaigning by the leaders of both BJP, Congress and BSP the electioneering for the second phase of elections to be held on April 18 came to a close on Tuesday evening. In the second phase of elections as many as 49,07,489 voters would decide the fate of 36 candidates in fray for Chhattisgarh’s three Lok Sabha seats- Rajnandgaon, Mahasamund and Kanker.

 

 

According to the Election Commission of Chhattisgarh, the highest 14 candidates would be contesting for Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat followed by 13 candidates would be contesting for Mahasamund and 09 candidates are trying their luck in Kanker Lok Sabha seat. The number of women voters representing these three constituencies is 24,69,110 while number of voters representing these seats is 24,38,320. Similarly, number of third gender voters is 59. As many as 484 polling booths have been set up for voting in three constituencies.

 

 

In all there are eight constituent assemblies under Rajnandgaon parliamentary constituency, where the voting is slated to take place on Thursday. Except, Naxal-infested Mohla-Manpur assembly constituency which is reserved seat, the timing of polling has been fixed from 7 am to 3 pm. However, polling at the remaining 7 assembly constituencies of Pandariya, Kawardha, Khairagarh, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon and Khujji will be held from 7 amto 5 pm. Of the eight assembly constituencies in Mahasamund, poll timing of 7 constituencies Saraipali, Basna, Khallari, Mahasamund, Rajim, Kurud, Mahasamund, and Dhamtari has been scheduled as 7 am to 5 pm. Barring the two Naxal-infested polling stations of Aamamora and Odh, where the poll time is fixed from 7 am to 3 pm, voting on remaining polling stations will be held from 7 am to 6 pm.

 

 

Poll timing at the three Naxal-affected assembly constituencies of Antagarh, Bhanupratappur and Kanker of Kanker seat has also been fixed from 7 am to 3 pm whereas at remaining 5 constituencies of Sihawa, Sanjari Balod, Dondi Lohara, Gunderdehi and Keshkal, votes will be cast from 7 am to 5.Chunnilal Sahu is contesting on a BJP ticket from Mahasamund and is facing Congress’ Dhanendra Sahu and BSP’s Dhansing Kosariya in 2019 elections. The BJP has fielded Santosh Pandey against Congress’ Bholaram Sahu in Rajnandgaon while the BSP has fielded Ravita Lakra from here. Mohan Mandavi is contesting on a BJP ticket and is facing Congress’ Biresh Thakur and BSP’s Sube Singh Dhurva.