A large number of processions marked filing of nominations by candidates of the BJP, Congress besides regional parties as they reached the District Collectorate in their respective districts to submit papers on the penultimate day of filing nominations for the second phase of Assembly polls in Chhattisgarh on Thursday.
In Raipur district, BJP candidate and State Agriculture Minister Chandrashekar Sahu who is contesting polls from Abhanpur filed his nominations besides Devjibhai Patel (BJP) who is contesting from Dharsiva Assembly segment who arrived while leading a separate rally of his supporters at the District Collectorate.
BJP candidate from Dharsiva Navin Markendey also reached the Collectorate to file his nomination.
Sahu went on foot at GE Road in the city while leading a rally of his supporters to file his nomination at the Raipur District Collectorate.
Among the Congress candidates, Vikas Upadhyaya files his nominations for contesting from Raipur (West) while party’s candidate Rudrakumar Guru filed his papers for contesting from Aarang Assembly constituency.
Among the regional parties, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) candidate from Abhanpur Bodhanlal Firkaar filed his nomination at the District Collectorate. There were many candidates in the poll fray who reached the District Collectorate for the second time to file their nomination papers .
On the other hand, a large number of Odisha origin people who live in western parts of Raipur came out in open to support Urban Development Minister Rajesh Munat who is contesting the Assembly election from the area.
Munat is contesting the election as a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Raipur-West constituency. large number of people attended a public meeting and gave their blessings to him. They said Munat is pride of the constituency and he has tried to solve the problems of the area and the people irrespective of their cast, creed, communities and political affiliations.
During last five years, Munat not only visited frequently to the area populated by people of Odisha origin, but also provided drinking water facilities, build concrete roads, and improved sanitation by building drains.
Addressing the large gathering at Gopal Nagar and Ramnagar, Munat said the State Government led by Chief Minister Raman Singh has been thinking of the poor and has taken several welfare measures for their upliftments.
The Government not only provided one kg of rice at one or two rupee, but also took measures to provide food security to the millions of people in the State. The Government has made provision that each family get benefit of free treatment up to Rs30,000, he said. Describing the State Government as a Government of poor, peasants, and of downtrodden, Munat said the Raman Singh Government has kept the promises it had made in the past.
Meanwhile, Joint Electoral Officer DD Singh said that some villagers of Naxal infested Bastar region demanded to keep them free from the voting mark made on their index finger while fearing that they would become easy target of Maoists. This demand has been forwarded to Election Commission of India, he informed
The JCEO while addressing media persons here said that the final decision over the finger mark is yet to be taken and added that similar demand was raised even during the last Assembly polls.
He further informed that 323 nominations were filed on penultimate day of the nomination filing for the second phase of Assembly polls scheduled on November 19. The highest numbers of nomination papers were filed in Korba at 12, followed by 11 in Raipur (South) seat on Thursday, Singh said.
He said that the ‘mono’ of ‘None of the Above’ (NOTA) had also been released by the Election Commission of India.
“The NOTA symbol would be pink in colour for Assembly polls and White for lok Sabha polls,” he said.
This apart, Singh said that State Election Commission has received about 1,200 complaints and a majority of which related to violation of Model Code of Conduct pertaining to transfers and postings. The Commission has so far resolved about 300 complaints, he said.
To a query on whether Non Resident Indians ( NRIs) can contest polls, the JCEO made it clear that if the name of person is in the electoral rolls then he/she can contest polls.
According to official information regarding nominations filed on Thursday Bharatpur-Sonhat seat had only one candidate who filed nomination.
Similarly from Baikunthpur and Prem Nagar constituency two candidates each filed nominations Bhatgaon seat (3) nominations, Ramanujgunj (9), Samri (2), lundra (5), Ambikapur (8), Sitapur (5) Jashpur and Kunkuri 2 candidates each have filed their nominations.
In the same way, from Pathalgaon and lailunga 3 persons each Raigarh (5) Sarangarh, Kharsiya, and Dharamjaigarh, 4 nominations each, Rampur (2), Korba (12), Kathghora ( 5) Tanakhar (5), Marwahi (2), Kota (4) lormi (5) Mungeli (4) Takhatpur( 8) Bilha (8) Bilaspur (18) Beltara (4) Masturi (5), Akaltara (3), Janjgir-Champa (5) Sakti (4) Chandrapur (6) Jaijaipur (4) from Pamgarh and Saraipali 3 candidates have also submitted their nomination forms.
Similarly from Khallari (4), Mahasamund (5), Bilaigarh (3), Kasdol (4), Baloda Bazar (3), Dharsiva (5), Raipur (Rural) (4) from Raipur Rural and Raipur (West) (5) each, Raipur (South) (11), Aarang (4), Abhanpur (8), Rajim (6) Bindranawagarh (3), from Sihawa and Dhamtari 4 each, Kurud (5) Dondilohara (6), Gunderdehi (2), from Durg City and Bhilai Nagar (9) each, Vaishali Nagar (8) Ahiwara (6) Saja (4), Bemetara (9), Nawagarh (5), Pandariya (4) and from Kawardha 6 candidates have filed their nominations.