Chhattisgarh State Election Commissioner Thakur Ram Singh said the second phase of polling for three-tier Panchayat is scheduled in 21 districts covering 36 blocks and 2505 village panchayats on January 31. No re-polling situation had arisen in first phase from any booth where polling was held.
In the first phase of polling the total polling percentage has recorded around 80.92% which is higher in comparison to 78.96% recorded in 2015. In maximum districts the polling was above 80% reaching upto 89.48%, Singh said.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, Singh said in the second phase of polling teams will be air-lifted by helicopter in certain polling booths and lifted back after polling.
In second phase for 19870 posts of panch there are total 48,952 candidates in fray, for 2396 Sarpanch post there area 10,496 candidates, for 658 Janpad member post there are 2870 candidates and for 89 posts of Zila Panchayat there are 405 candidates in election fray. Thus, the total posts is 23,013 against which 62,723 candidate are in the fray.
The polling will be held from 6.45 AM to 2.00 PM in restive areas of Bastar revenue division while polling in normal areas will be held from 7.00AM to 3.00 PM, After polling process is completed, counting will commence.
Commissioner further said 1882 polling booths have been declared as senisitive while highly sensitive polling booths are 742 mainly in Bastar division. Based on demand, several polling centres have also been shifted.
He adds, the total electors for second phase is 30,56,648 out of which number of women voters is 15,21,721, men voters 15,34, 894 and third gender is 33.
Singh pointed out that in second phase a total of 15147 candidates have been elected unopposed, mainly Panch 15026, Sarpanch 101 candidates, Janpad member 19 and Zila Panchayat member 1 in Bastar.
FIR has been filed in two cases, one of Arang where lost candidate had sought to return gifts distributed during electioneering while in second case at Kasdol against a candidate for keeping polling cum counting team hostage and causing hindrance in election duty.