Voting in Chhattisgarh was conducted in two phases on November 12 and November 20 while the counting of votes will be held on December 11, Tuesday. The term of the 90-seat Chhattisgarh Assembly will end on January 5, 2019.
Tight security arrangements have been made in the state where at least 12 assembly seats are in Naxal-affected areas. Besides, there have been allegations related to the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
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The state is witnessing a three-way contest with the ruling BJP trying to retain power while the principal opposition Congress and an alliance of Ajit Jogi's JCC and Mayawati's BSP are eyeing power.
Despite a boycott call by the Communist Party of India (Maoist), Chhattisgarh recorded an overall turnout of 76.35 per cent in the two-phased assembly elections.
The Raman Singh-led BJP government in Chhattisgarh, which has been in power since 2013, is hoping for a fourth term. The party has left no stone unturned in making an attempt to retain power in the state, but has, at the same time, faced a stiff opposition from the Congress party.
While the BJP once again relied on the credibility of Raman Singh’s leadership, projecting him as its chief ministerial candidate, the Congress declared that a decision of the chief ministerial candidate would be taken after the results on December 11.
Most of the exit polls have predicted a close fight between BJP and Congress, but some of the agencies have given a slight edge to the Congress party.
The assembly elections are being seen as crucial for the BJP before the Lok Sabha elections in 2019. BJP is in power in three of states - Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan - where counting is taking place on Tuesday.
