Chhattisgarh: People turn up in large numbers to vote in naxal-hit Bastar constituency

Dantewada/Sukma: People on Thursday turned up in large numbers to cast their vote in the axal-affected parliamentary constituency of Bastar.

Voters queued up to exercise their franchise in Dantewada and Sukma areas amid heavy security.

On Tuesday, naxals triggered an IED blast in Dantewada, which killed sitting BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi, his driver and three personal security personnel. Following the attack, security measures have been beefed up.

However, the Election Commission has already stated that polling for Lok Sabha elections will be held as per schedule. Collectors and Superintendents of Police of affected districts have been instructed to take utmost precautions.

On Thursday, voting begins for 91 constituencies in 20 states and union territories in the first phase of General elections.

In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, BJP’s Dinesh Kashyap had registered victory from Bastar. This time the party has fielded its Bastar district chief and former MLA Baiduram Kashyap. Earlier, BJP’s Chhattisgarh unit had requested the party’s Central Election Committee to field fresh candidates in the General elections.

Sitting Congress MLA from Chitrakot, Deepak Baij is contesting against Kashyap.

Chhattisgarh will witness Lok Sabha polls in the first three phases – April 11, April 18 and April 23 – for its 11 Parliamentary constituencies.

[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]