More than 1.29 crore electorate of 72 Assembly constituencies in the State are set to exercise their franchise in second phase on Tuesday between 8 am and 5 pm to decide the fate of 843 candidates.
The mega exercise will also decide whether the Bharatiya Janata Party Government-led by Dr Raman Singh would be given another term or the main Opposition party Congress will make a comeback to power after 10 years.
The Election Commission of India and State administration have made elaborate arrangements for fair and peaceful polling in the second phase, after ensuring more or less peaceful poll in Maoist hotbed Bastar and Rajnandgaon regions comprising 18 Assembly constituencies in the first phase, which was held on November 11.
Besides visits of central leaders of both the major contending political parties -- BJP and Congress, Chief Minister Raman Singh led the campaigning of BJP from the front, conducting election rallies as well as road shows in 89 Assembly constituencies out of 90. Kharsiya, the home constituency of slain CGPCC chief Nandkumar Patel, was the lone seat where the Chief Minister did not go.
On the other hand, wheelchair-bound former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi was the busiest person on the Congress side, visiting major portion of State to seek mandate for political change in the State.
On individual level too, candidates vying for Assembly berth, tried their best to woo voters in their favour till the last moment of door-to-door canvassing even if observers of Election Commission and cameras of videographers kept their eyes on the movements/activities of contenders amid talk of political managers of some of the influential candidates indulging in malpractices.
Saffron leaders sought people’s mandate for hat-trick in the State on the basis of achievements of the Government on the development and welfare front whereas Congress harped on corruption, maladministration and the alleged loot of natural resources by leaders of ruling party. However, the electorate this time are keeping them all in good humour, and appeared not ready to open up their cards till the last moment.
A neo-literate Indra Bai, a resident of Gudhiyari and working as construction workers, says, “Babuji oo man aaye rahin kuchh bante khatir, haman nai le han (sir, they had come to our locality to distribute some gifts, but we did not accept).” She appeared enthusiastic to cast vote along with her spouse even at the cost of losing day’s wage. But even after repeated enquiring about her preferred choice among the candidates she said, “Haman nai janat han, kali booth bar jai ke sochbo (we do not know at present, only after reaching polling booth we will give a thought to it).”
Notably, the 72 constituencies going to polls in second phase, ruling BJP is representing 35 and main challenger Congress too has 35 sitting MlAs. Two seats —Akaltara and Pamgarh were represented by Bahujan Samaj Party, which has fielded candidates from all 90 seats this time.