Here are top highlights from the first phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly Election 2018:
i. Chhattisgarh is witnessing a three-way electoral battle with all in stakes for BJP as it wrestles to retain its government against opposition Congress and Ajit Jogi-Mayawati alliance emerging as a substantial third front. Even the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party has fielded candidates on as many as 66 on constituency seats.
ii. Malfunctioning of EVMs were reported from several booths across Dhamtari, Jashpur, Raipur, Ambikapur, Khallari, Raigarh Patan, Sihawa and Korba, with the Congress accusing the state's ruling BJP of "electoral malpractices" and "attempting to disrupt" the poll process.
iii. Alliance of Jogi and Mayawati is also considered as a possible kingmaker in the state as vote share difference between the top runners BJP and Congress was less than one per cent during the 2013 Assembly elections.
iv. Among the prominent faces in the fray in the second phase for the Congress were Baghel (Patan), Leader of Opposition in the Assembly T.S. Singh Deo (Ambikapur) and former Union Minister Charandas Mahant (Shakti). For the BJP, the list included state Ministers Brijmohan Agrawal (Raipur City South), Rajesh Munat (Raipur City West), Amar Agrawal (Bilaspur), and Prem Prakash Pandey (Bhilai Nagar).
v. For the BSP-JCC alliance, Jogi, his wife Renu Jogi and daughter-in-law Richa Jogi are in the running. Ajit Jogi has ruled Chhattisgarh for 3 years as Congress CM but was later defeated by the incumbent CM Raman Singh in 2013. Jogi has also said that he will not form any post-poll alliance with the BJP.
vi. Extensive security arrangements, including the deployment of helicopters and drones, were put in place for the balloting which took place at over 19,000 polling stations. Extra security was put in place in Maoist-affected Gariaband, Dhamtari, Mahasamund, Kabirdham, Jashpur and Balrampur districts.
(With agency inputs)