Chhattisgarh Elections 2023: Around 28 percent polling recorded until noon

Polling is being held under a thick security blanket in the sensitive state, which has a 90-member Assembly.Official sources gave the constituency-wise polling figure for Bastar at approximately 21 percent, Bijapur 11, Mohla-Manpur 37, Rajnandgaon 23, Sukma 14, Kanker 38, Kabirdham 28, Kondagaon 33, Khairagarh 27, Dantewada 26 and Narayanpur 24 percent respectively.

The officer of CRPF's elite COBRA battalion was injured when an IED exploded in the restive Sukma district of Bastar division.

Confirming the incident, SP Kiran Chauhan said, "A detachment of the Force’s 206th Commando Battalion for Resolute Action had left Camp Tondamarka and was heading for Elmagunda village to execute an area domination exercise. Inspector Shrikant stepped on the landmine.

"He has been hospitalised."

The Naxals have issued a poll boycott call.

The timings for exercise of franchise are 7 a.m to 3 p.m. in Mohla-Manpur, Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Keshkal, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Konta, whereas the limits are 8 a.m-5 p.m. in Pandariya, Kawardha, Khairagarh, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Khujji, Bastar, Jagdalpur, and Chitrakote.

Of the total 5,304 polling centres, webcasting facilities are available at 2,431 centres.

The fortunes of 223 candidates, including 25 females, are being sealed in EVMs by members of a 40,78,681-strong electorate that includes 20,84,675 women.

The ruling Congress and principal opposition BJP are in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation in all 20 constituencies, 19 of which are held by the Congress.