In Chhattisgarh, 12 Seats in Bastar go to Polls Today

Bhopal/New Delhi: Twelve assembly seats of naxal-hit Bastar division are among the 20 constituencies where voting will be held tomorrow in the first phase of assembly elections. About 60,000 security personnel have been deployed for the smooth conduct of the polls in the sensitive zone, the police said It’s expected to be a close contest between the Congress and the BJP as both parties are trying to win the support of tribal voters. The grand old party is banking on its legacy of welfare schemes and support for tribal rights, while the BJP is focusing on development and infrastructure. The second phase of voting will take place on November 17, while votes will be counted on December 3. Congress has fielded Roop Singh Potai from Antagarh against BJP’s state president Vikram Usendi. Roop Singh Potai recently switched over to Congress from BJP. Rebel Congress MLA Anoop Nag is also fighting the election from Antagarh as an independent candidate, making it a three-way contest. In 2018 assembly elections, Anoop Nag had defeated Vikram Usendi, a four-time MLA from Antagarh, by more than 13,000 votes. Anup Nag got 57061 votes, while Vikram Usendi got 43647 votes. BJP has fielded Gautam Uike from Bhanupratappur this year, while BJP has fielded Savitri Mandavi after death of her husband Manoj Mandavi who won the 2018 elections from the assembly seat. In 2018, Manoj Mandavi defeated BJP’s Devlal Dugga by 26,000 votes. Manoj Mandavi got 72,520 votes and Congress candidate Devlal got 45,827 votes.

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