CHENNAI: The voting for Madhya Pradesh's all 230 assembly seats and Chhattisgarh's 70 seats--in the second phase is being held today.
While in Madhya Pradesh, the incumbent is the BJP, in Chhattisgarh, it is the Congress that is seeking to retain power.
In MP, voting will be held from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. However, in Baihar, Lanji, and Parswara assembly seats of Balaghat district and some booths of Mandla and Dindori districts, voting will be held till 3 p.m.
In Chhattisgarh, the BJP, which ruled the state continuously between 2003 and 2018, is seeking to replace the Congress government led by Chief Minister Bhupesh Bahgel.
The first phase of polling in the state for 20 seats was held on November 7. Both parties claimed to have done well in the first phase. The Congress had a good strike rate in these 70 seats in the 2018 elections, having won 51 of them.
Polling parties have reached their designated polling stations and 958 candidates are in the fray in this phase.
Over 18,000 polling stations have been set up in the state for voting in this phase. Out of these, 727 are 'Sangwari' booths where women polling personnel have been deployed.
Voting begins for the Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, 230 assembly seats in the fray.
Voting begins on all 230 assembly seats of the state. Visuals from a polling station in Narsinghpur.
People queue up outside polling stations as they await their turn to cast a vote. Visuals from a polling station in Bhopal.
An elderly voter shows her inked finger after casting her vote at a polling booth in Gwalior.
CM Bhupesh Baghel says, "Today polling will happen for the remaining 70 seats...Your one vote will decide the future of youth, farmers, women...Please move out of your homes to vote...Vote for the betterment of Chhattisgarh."
Early voters exercise their franchise in Mandsaur. "More and more people should come out and cast their votes, and strengthen the festival of democracy," says a voter.
Visuals of polling booth at Nagar Palika School in Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh. Polling for the second phase began at 7 am today.
BJP candidate from Indore-1, Kailash Vijayvargiya offers prayers at his residence in Indore.
Polling on all 230 assembly seats of the state is underway.
People show their inked fingers after casting their vote at a polling booth in Indore.
First-time voter, Chahat Singhal says, "This is my first vote. The voting timings were 7am-6pm but I am here from 6am..."
Voters queue up outside a polling station in Sidhi as polling continues on all 230 assembly seats of the state.
Voting begins for the second phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly elections; remaining 70 seats in the fray.
A differently-abled voter being helped to reach the polling booth, at a polling station in Raipur.
State BJP president and party's candidate from Lormi, Arun Sao offers prayers at a temple in Bilaspur.
State BJP president and party's candidate from Lormi, Arun Sao casts his vote at a polling booth in Bilaspur.
Visuals from the polling centre in Bhopal.
Congress candidate from Rau, Jitendra (Jitu) Patwari and his mother cast their votes at a polling booth in Indore.
Former Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath casts his vote in Chhindwara.
State BJP president VD Sharma holds a meeting at BJP Control Room in Bhopal.
VD Sharma says "Our state BJP team is monitoring the elections underway in the state. Our workers in the Control Room are making sure that the elections are organised in the best possible way...People of the state will bless the BJP and we will get a huge majority. BJP is going to create history in Madhya Pradesh..."
State Minister and Congress candidate from Durg Rural, Tamradhwaj Sahu casts his vote at a polling booth in Durg.
State Minister and Congress candidate from Durg Rural, Tamradhwaj Sahu casts his vote at a polling booth in Durg.
Congress candidate from Sonkachh, Sajjan Singh Verma casts his vote at a polling booth in Indore.
State Home Minister and BJP candidate from Datia Narottam Mishra casts his vote at a polling booth in Datia
Congress candidate from Sonkachh, Sajjan Singh Verma casts his vote at a polling booth in Indore.
Chief Minister and BJP candidate from Budhni, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his wife Sadhna Singh greeted by women in Sehore. Voting for the state elections is underway.
Madhya Pradesh: Violence reported at polling booths 147-148 of Dimani Assembly constituency, in Mirghan, Morena when stone pelting ensued between two sides. One person injured in stone pelting. The situation is now under control.
Violence reported at polling booths 147-148 of Dimani Assembly constituency, in Mirghan, Morena when stone pelting ensued between two sides. One person injured in stone pelting. The situation is now under control.
Congress candidate from Sonkachh, Sajjan Singh Verma casts his vote at a polling booth in Indore.
5.71% voter turnout recorded till 9 am in the second phase of voting in Chhattisgarh and 11.13% in Madhya Pradesh.
Union Minister and BJP candidate from Narsinghpur, Prahlad Singh Patel casts his vote at a polling booth here.
BJP leader Dharamlal Kaushik casts his vote at polling booth number 211, in Bilaspur
MP Congress chief Kamal Nath reviews elections from control room set up at party office in Bhopal.
Urge people to record 100 per cent polling, confident of BJP return in MP: Union Minister Prahlad Patel
Bhopal: State Congress president and party's candidate from Chhindwara, Kamal Nath says, "BJP is making efforts through police, money and administration. All they are left with is this...Yesterday, they distributed liquor and money the entire day. People have sent me videos and showed it to me on video call what's going on...I'm saying this on record that Morena SP is working as a BJP worker"
Madhya Pradesh: BSP candidate from Bhind, Sanjeev Singh Kushwaha says, "The administration told us that if we sit at the circuit house, voting process will be held peacefully and there will be peace in the city. When we go to a polling station, our supporters get enthusiastic and there comes chances of an effect on law and order situation..."
Congress candidate from Bhind, Chaudhary Rakesh Singh Chaturvedi says, "...Yesterday, I received a call from SDM and he told me that they want to bring in candidates from national parties to circuit house, after 9 am. I said that I would come in if he called others too. So, I came here. All candidates of national parties have been called here, nothing wrong with it...
Union Minister and BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia casts his vote at a polling booth in Gwalior.
19.65% voter turnout recorded till 11 am in the second phase of voting in Chhattisgarh and 27.62% in Madhya Pradesh.
19.65% voter turnout recorded till 11 am in the second phase of voting in Chhattisgarh and 27.62% in Madhya Pradesh.
Chhattisgarh Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan says, "Casting vote is the democratic right of every citizen of the country. Democracy demands that all citizens should exercise their rights and by that they decide what sort of government they want in the state and at the Centre. We have come and cast our vote..."
Congress Candidate Sanjay Shukla casts his vote at polling booth number 75, in Indore
Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan cast his vote at a polling booth in Raipur.
Raipur: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel's son Chaitanya Baghel says, "Congress is making the government. As our CM has said, '75 paar hoga' so definitely '75 paar hoga'... Since morning, I have gone to 50 booths... Workers are filled with energy."
Former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan casts her vote at polling booth number 163 in Indore.
Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh: After casting his vote, Union Minister and BJP candidate Narendra Singh Tomar says, "There is a wave of BJP in Madhya Pradesh, the atmosphere is in favour of BJP and people are liking the schemes and development works of the Central Government and State Government. BJP will form the government with a clear majority. I have cast my vote and here also the atmosphere is in favor of BJP..."
Raipur: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel's son Chaitanya Baghel says, "Congress is making the government. As our CM has said, '75 paar hoga' so definitely '75 paar hoga'... Since morning, I have gone to 50 booths... Workers are filled with energy."
Ambikapur: Chhattisgarh Deputy CM and Congress candidate from Ambikapur, TS Singh Deo casts his vote at a polling booth in Rajmohini Devi Girls College.
BJP MP Saroj Pandey casts her vote at a polling booth in Durg
BJP MP Saroj Pandey says, "Surely, it's a huge occassion for democracy. Everybody should play their part in this. Each and every vote decides the direction of the state. I believe that this is the direction in the favour of the BJP...In the last five years, Chhattisgarh's face has changed and its identity has been established as 'Apradhgarh' due to corruption..."
Chhattisgarh Assembly elections: Ahead of casting his vote, Chhattisgarh CM and Congress candidate from Durg assembly constituency Bhupesh Baghel says "We are more than 75 seats...The fight here is one-sided, there is no competition..."
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh and his wife Amrita Rai cast their votes at a polling booth in Bhopal.
Digvijaya Singh says, "...An incident has taken place in Chhatarpur where one of our workers was mowed down by the BJP candidate with his vehicle. The Police have neither confiscated the vehicle so far nor has the candidate been arrested. Open hooliganism is taking place. BJP president's disciple is contesting the election from there. He has done illegal sand mining there. I have spoken with the Collector-SP. Our party is also giving a report to the Election Commission about the same...
On some incidents of violence in Madhya Pradesh during voting today, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh says, "Yes there are a few complaints. I hope that the government will work in a fair manner..."
Durg: Chhattisgarh Assembly elections: Chhattisgarh CM and Congress candidate from Durg assembly constituency Bhupesh Baghel cast his vote at polling booth number 57 in Kuriddih village.
After casting his vote, Chhattisgarh CM and Congress candidate from Durg assembly constituency Bhupesh Baghel says "Our target is to cross 75 (seats). High command will decide that (CM face)
38.22% voter turnout recorded till 1 pm in the second phase of voting in Chhattisgarh and 45.40% in Madhya Pradesh.
Chhattisgarh Elections | Durg: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel says, "Good news is coming from everywhere. People are reaching the polling booth and exercising their voting rights. I appeal to those who are at home to cast their vote... Everywhere there is a one-sided environment, the trust is on Congress..."
A BJP candidate and an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supporter sustained injuries after unidentified persons opened fire in Madhya Pradesh's Mehgaon Assembly constituency.
55.31% turnout in Chhattisgarh, 60.52% turnout recorded in MP till 3 pm.
"The incident in Morena took place late at night yesterday in which one person died. After the post-mortem, an FIR will be registered. It is not related to elections. It is a pre-poll day incident. A small fight happened in Indore in front of Juni Police station, in which a case has been registered. There was no effect of the polls," says Madhya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer Anupam Ranjan.
Union Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for Madhya Pradesh assembly polls, Narendra Singh Tomar cast his vote and said that there was a wave of the BJP in the State.
"There is a wave of the BJP in Madhya Pradesh. The atmosphere is in favour of the BJP. People are liking the schemes and development works of the Central Government and State Government. On the basis of it, I can say with confidence that the BJP will form the government with a clear majority in the state. I have cast my vote and here also the atmosphere is in favour of the BJP," Tomar said.
67.34% voter turnout in Chhattisgarh, 71.11% voter turnout in MP till 5:00 pm.
On reports of some incidents of violence during Madhya Pradesh elections and Congress allegations, BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur says, "Congress is saying all this because they are nervous because of BJP's work and the fear of losing. They keep making allegations. The machines (EVM) are fine for them where they win, and they blame the machines when they lose. Their allegations are baseless. It is Congress's culture to plan attacks and violence and then encash that The people can see the changes that took place after PM Modi's government came into power."
Chhattisgarh: One ITBP jawan was killed in an IED blast carried out by Naxalites in Gariaband.
IED blast was carried out by the naxals targeting the polling party when they were returning from Bade Gobra polling station. ITBP head constable Joginder Singh died in the blast. The polling party and EVM machine reached Gariaband safely: IG Raipur Range Arif Sheikh.
Madhya Pradesh sees 71.16% polling, voter turnout 68.15% in Chhattisgarh.
On voting trends in Madhya Pradesh elections, Chief Electoral Officer Anupam Rajan says, "The voting percentage till 5 pm is 71.16%. Constituency-wise, the highest voting percentage is in Ratlam's Sailana constituency, 85.49%. In Khilchipur Rajgarh, the voting percentage is 84.17%. In Seoni's Barghat constituency, the voting percentage is 84.16% In Bhind 50.41%, in Gwalior South 51.05%, and in Jalabpur Cant. 52.2% of voting has taken place. In Agar Malwa district, 82%, in Neemuch 81.19%, and in Shajapur the voting percentage is 80.95%. Alirajpur had 56.24%, Bhind 58.41% and in Bhopal 59.19% voting took place. The overall average of the state is 71.16%."
"Few candidates alleged that voters are being allowed to cast their vote without any identity check at a polling booth in Indore. Action was taken and verification of voters was done in the presence of officials. The crowd that gathered at the booth was later dispersed after the issue was resolved," says DCP Abhinay Vishwakarma on reports of ruckus at a polling booth in Indore.
"The voter turnout in Madhya Pradesh shows the support of people and especially of the women towards the BJP and its schemes in the state. The issue of women empowerment has played an important role in this election," says State BJP chief VD Sharma.
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"The voter turnout for polling in Madhya Pradesh was good. BJP will surely be forming a government in the state as it has focused on development unlike the Congress which always neglected the basic needs of the people," says BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur.
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"The incident happened when the polling party was returning after voting concluded. The polling party reached Gariaband safely. The incident happened around 3km from the polling station. Police are on high alert," says Additional SP Gariaband on ITBP jawan killed in blast triggered by Naxalites.
An IED blast was carried out by the Naxals targeting the polling party when they were returning from the Bade Gobra polling station. ITBP head constable Joginder Singh died in the blast. The polling party and EVM machine reached Gariaband safely: IG Raipur Range Arif Sheikh
Madhya Pradesh:
Violence reported from Chambal region, candidates confined as security measure.