Assembly Elections 2023 live: Mizoram registers 77.04% voter turnout, Chhattisgarh records 70.87%

CHENNAI: As the people of Mizoram and 20 seats of Chhattisgarh are going to cast their vote in the five-state elections, which are considered to be the semifinals of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, take a look at how have the parties fared in the SC and ST constituencies of both the states.

Voting for the first phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023 begins. Twenty of the 90 assembly seats will be voting in the first phase of polls. Over 40 lakh electors will vote across 5,304 polling stations in the first phase.

Voting for Mizoram Assembly Elections 2023 begins.

"It will not be a hung Assembly. It will be the MNF Government. I have full confidence in that. BJP is not an alliance partner. NDA is there in the Centre. Here in the state, we don't have any alliance with BJP or any other party...We are only a partner of the NDA in the Centre, here in the State we support the NDA on issue-based," says Mizoram CM and MNF president Zoramthanga after casting his vote at 19-Aizawl Venglai-I YMA Hall polling station.

Mizoram CM and MNF president Zoramthanga says he couldn't cast his vote. "Because the machine was not working. I was voting for some time. But since the machine could not work I said that I would visit my constituency and vote after the morning meet," he said.

Kedar Kashyap, BJP candidate from Narayanpur casts his vote for the Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023 at polling booth number 212 in Bhanpuri Assembly Constituency.

"A large number of people are present here to cast their votes which shows that people in the State want to remove the Congress government from Chhattisgarh. I would like to appeal to everyone to cast maximum votes for BJP," he said after casting his vote.

After casting his vote for the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, Congress candidate Mohan Markam from Kondagaon said, "I am confident that I will win for the third time from Kondagaon. BJP cannot compete with Congress in Chhattisgarh, that is why they are using ED."

PM Modi urges people of Mizoram to vote

"I call upon the people of Mizoram to vote in record numbers. I particularly urge the young and first-time voters to exercise their franchise and strengthen the festival of democracy," he wrote on X.

In his message for voters in Chhattisgarh, Modi urged them to be a part of the democracy's auspicious festival by casting their votes in the first round of polls. He congratulated the first-time voters.

Amit Shah urges voters to turn out in strength

"I urge our sisters and brothers in Mizoram, especially the youth to come out and vote in large numbers. Each and every vote will lay the foundation of a developed and prosperous Mizoram," Shah wrote on X.

For Chhattisgarh, he urged people to vote for a government that is dedicated to the ‘welfare of the tribal society, farmers, poor and youth by ending the rule of corruption and scams from the State’.

Chhattisgarh Election 2023:

BJP candidate Lata Usendi from the Kondagaon Assembly constituency casts her vote.

Chhattisgarh Elections Phase I: More women voters than men in 16 out of 20 seats

Women voters outnumber men in 16 out of the 20 assembly where polling is being held in the first phase on Tuesday in Chhattisgarh, as per officials.

Mizoram Elections 2023:

Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati casts his vote at a polling booth in Aizawl South - II. 

Mizoram Elections 2023: 

Mizoram Congress chief Lalsawta casts his vote at a polling station in Mission Vengthlang of Aizawl.

"We are confident that we can form the Government This constituency is difficult to predict, but I think we will come on top. We have already considered the possibility of securing 22 seats," says Mizoram Congress chief Lalsawta after casting his vote at polling booth in Aizawl West 3 seat.

"Mizoram is a literate State, literacy rate is very high. People are also aware of their rights. I appeal to all the people of Mizoram to vote and participate in the election and strengthen democracy...I think in Mizoram, people are well aware of their rights and the percentage of voting is very high. This time also I expect the percentage to be very high, says Mizoram Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati after casting his vote at a polling booth in Aizawl South - II.

Chhattisgarh Elections 2023:

Chhattisgarh Minister and Congress candidate from Konta Assembly Constituency, Kawasi Lakhma, cast their votes at polling booth number 36 in the Konta Assembly constituency.

"We are fighting on the issue of development, security, and peace. Several development works have been done here in the last 5 years. I won from a margin of 6,700 votes and this year, I will win with a bigger margin," says Congress candidate Kawasi Lakhma after casting his vote.

Mizoram Elections 2023:

K Sapdanga, working president of ZPM (Zoram People's Movement) and party's candidate for the Aizawl North-III constituency cast his vote.

Mizoram Assembly Elections: 101 years old and his wife cast their votes today.

"He (CM Zoramthanga) is showing his dream (of coming back to power). But I don't think so. He will not come again. It seems from the movement of the people that the same government will not come again because the anti-incumbency wave is very much at this time, says ZPM working president K Sapdanga after casting his vote.

Voting is being held in the naxal-affected Karigundam area after 23 years. The polling process is being held under the security cover by the CRPF 150 Battalion and District Force.

Chhattisgarh Elections 2023: Voting for remaining 10 seats begins amid tight security

"People will win, there's no doubt about it," says Vijay Kumar Sharma, BJP's candidate from Kawardha seat in Chhattisgarh.

Congress candidate from Bastar seat Lakheshwar Baghel casts his vote.

Voting underway in Chhattisgarh's Bastar amid tight security.

Chhattisgarh Elections 2023: Anti-Naxal teams deployed as locals vote in Bijapur

Elect Congress' 'trustworthy' govt in Chhattisgarh again: Rahul Gandhi to voters.

9.93% voter turnout recorded till 9 a.m. in Chhattisgarh and 12.80% in Mizoram. 

Chhattisgarh Elections 2023: Chhattisgarh CM and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel speaks on poll guarantees

"Congress manifesto mentions all of these...Chhattisgarh Congress has always stood for the welfare of common people," says Baghel.

On the assembly elections in five states, Karnataka Minister and Congress MLA Priyank Kharge says, "The BJP's failed economic policies have been exposed. We are going to come back into power in all five states."

"We (BJP) will win 14 out of 20 seats, including Rajnandgaon and Bastar. Our campaign was successful," says former Chhattisgarh CM and BJP leader Raman Singh as voting for the first phase of Chhattisgarh Election 2023 continues.

"Polling is being held in 12 Assembly constituencies of Bastar division. Adequate security arrangements have been made in all areas. We have special security forces too. Arrangements are in place to ensure that all voters cast their votes in a safe environment. We appeal to the people to exericse their franchise safely, says Bastar IG P Sundarraj as voting for the first phase of the Chhattisgarh Election 2023 continues.

"I extend my best wishes to those who are contesting elections today. I pray for positive and good politics in the country," says AAP MP Sandeep Pathak on the first phase of assembly elections in Chhattisgarh and Mizoram.

Mizoram CM & MNF president Zoramthanga casts his vote.

"I have cast my vote and visited half of my constituency. I believe that we shall be able to form the government and in my constituency we hope we shall get an overwhelming victory," says Mizoram CM Zoramthanga after casting his vote.

"I certainly believe that we shall be able to form the government on our own without any coalition. Situation will not arise in which we will need other parties. MNF will be able to form the government. BJP is our friend in the sense that in the Centre we are the NDA partners but not here in the State," Mizoram CM Zoramthanga adds.

"If the biggest of all the promises is fulfilled then the rest will fall in line. The biggest promise from our side is that of a corruption-free government," ZPM (Zoram People's Movement) candidate Lalnghinglova Hmar.

"From our side, one of the poll promises is strengthening the existing Lokayukta. We have Lokayukta only for the namesake. It doesn't really have the manpower to work. If you want to fight corruption, you have to strengthen it. We also promised that we will bring in CBI, that alone could be a game-changer," Lalnghinglova Hmar added.

22.97% voter turnout recorded till 11 am in Chhattisgarh and 26.43% in Mizoram.  

"The main poll issue here (Rajnandgaon and Bastar) is the Congress government's failure and corruption. None of their leaders are clean and people of Chhattisgarh know it," says BJP Rajanandgaon MP Santosh Pandey.

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Chhattisgarh Election 2023:

BJP candidate Mahesh Gagda from Bijapur constituency casts his vote along with family members.

Let's vote to get freedom from hooliganism and terror, says BJP's Mahesh Gagda

"Elaborate security arrangements have been made for a smooth voting process. Out of over 2,900 polling booths, 600 polling booths are considered to be in the high-security zone in the Bastar region. A three-layer security cordon has been prepared for these polling booths," says Sundarraj Pattilingam, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range, Chhattisgarh.

"He (Raman Singh) is not going to save his own seat. We had won 17 seats out of 20 last time, this time we will win 18 or 19 seats," says Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel on former CM and BJP leader Raman Singh's statement that his party will win 14 out of 20 seats where voting is being held in the first phase of elections today.

"I appeal to the voters that Congress has served for five years and should be given an opportunity to serve this time too. We do what we promise, however, there's no guarantee of BJP's guarantees," says Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel.

Religious conversion among election issues in Chhattisgarh's tribal belt.

Voting underway in Kolasib, a newly formed district of Mizoram.

Congress government failed to control Naxalism in Chhattisgarh, says PM Modi in Surajpur.

44.55% voter turnout recorded till 1 pm in Chhattisgarh and 52.73% in Mizoram.    

Three security personnel injured in an exchange of fire with Naxals near Minpa in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh

Mizoram sees 69.86 pc polling till 3 pm, Chhattisgarh registers 59.19 pc voter turnout for 20 seats

One more security personnel injured in encounter with Naxalites near Minpa village in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district: Police

A groom reached a polling station in Naxal-affected Narayanpur in Chhattisgarh to cast his vote. 

Former Chhattisgarh CM and BJP candidate Raman Singh says, "...BJP is winning at least 14 seats out of 20 on which voting is taking place in the first phase...There is a 30% share of (Chhattisgarh CM) Bhupesh Baghel in the Mahadev betting App (scam), PM Modi has made that clear. ED has proved it, a money transaction of Rs 508 crores is clearly visible,"

Polling officials return on a helicopter from Naxal-hit area in Chhattisgarh, where voting was held today. 

Former Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh casts his vote in Naxal-affected Kawardha in Chhattisgarh. 

Polling concludes in Mizoram, 69.87 pc turnout till 3 pm