In the first phase of Panchayat elections held on January 28, large number of voters exercised their franchise and  Chhattisgarh State Election Commission has issued the revised final figures of first phase voting on Friday and said that polling percentage was exactly at 77.79 per cent.“In the first phase, 78.01 per cent male voters and 77.51 per cent female voters exercised their franchise to elect Panchayat representative.

Maximum number of votes were recorded in Dhamtari. Nearly 90.87 per cent of this district turned up to elect Panch, Sarpanch, Janpad member and Jila Panchayat member,’’ an official statement of the Commission informed.It further said that the least percentage of votes have been recorded in South Bastar (Dantewada) of Bastar Division.In the first phase, panchayat elections were held in 54 Janpad Panchayats of 25 districts in state to elect Panchs, Sarpanchs, Janpad members and Jila Panchayat members.

As per the data issued by State Election Commission, 70.50 per cent voting was recorded in Bilaspur district, 81.87 per cent in Mungeli district, 82.20 per cent in Janjgir-Champa district, 84.55 per cent in Korba district, 88.19 per cent in Raigarh district, 84.45 per cent in Surajpur district, 86.76 per cent in Balrampur district, 87.75 per cent in Sarguja district, 83.34 per cent in Koriya district, 80.77 per cent in Jashpur district, 85.37 per cent in Raipur district, 88.66 per cent in Durg district, 78.51 per cent in  Balodabazar district, 89.29 per cent in Gariaband district, 82.10 per cent in Mahasamund district, 72.85 per cent in Balod district, 81.32 per cent in Rajnandgaon district, 86.77 per cent in Kabeerdham district, 79.96 per cent in Kondagaon district, 83.82 per cent in Bastar district, 60.48 per cent in Kanker district, 61.30 per cent in Sukma district and 42.29 per cent voting was recorded in Bijapur district.