The first phase of election in Chhattisgarh has begun amid tight security. A total of 143 candidates are contesting from 12 constituencies in Bastar division and six constituencies of Rajnandgaon district with an electorate of 29,33,200 in the first of the two-phase polls to the 90-member assembly in the state. Chief Minister Raman Singh is contesting from Rajnandgaon constituency. His main rival is Congress' Alka Mudliyar,wife of slain Congress leader Uday Mudliyar. Devati Karma,wife of Mahendra Karma,has been fielded from Dantewada-ST seat. Women voters outnumber men for first phase of polling,as 14,78,659 female voters are there against 14,53,730 men. A total of 4,142 polling booths have been set up for this phase of which 1,517 are sensitive booths while 1,311 are hyper-sensitive stations. Out of the 18 seats,BJP had won 15 while Congress had three in the last election. (With PTI inputs)
