Chhattisgarh Elections 2018: Congress cries foul over two-phase polls

The Election Commission (EC) on Saturday announced the dates for the Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram Assembly polls. Chhattisgarh will go to the polls in two phases on November 12 and 20. 

18 Naxal dominated seats will have election in the first phase on November 12. The other 72 seats will be going to polls on 20th November. The result for Chhattisgarh polls will be declared alongside other four states on December 11. 

BJP has been in power in Chhattisgarh since 2003 with Raman Singh at the helm. However, Congress has always given BJP a close run in the Naxal affected state. This time too a close contest is expected, though BSP contesting with Ajit Jogi's party may lead to split in the SC/ ST vote bank of the opposition. 

Reacting to the dates, PL Poonia, Chhattisgarh Congress in-charge said, " When EC went to Raipur,Congress suggested single-phase election but BJP suggested 2-phase election.This decision(2-phase election in state)has been taken to allow misuse of power.But we trust people&they trust us. We'll form next govt here". 

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Friday accused the Congress of forging "ties with Naxals" to remain in power in Chhattisgarh before 2003.

The BJP government in the state had succeeded in containing the Maoist menace, Shah said, addressing a tribal convention at Narharpur in the insurgency-hit Kanker district. Targeting the Congress ahead of the state Assembly polls over various issues, he challenged the opposition party to an open debate on its development track record.

The convention marked the conclusion of the Atal Vikas Yatra campaign launched by Chief Minister Raman Singh to highlight the achievements of his 15-year rule. "Chhattisgarh once reverberated with the sound of bullets.... I have no hesitation in saying that the earlier Congress government (before the BJP came to power in the state in 2003) had forged ties with Naxals to stay in power. We broke that nexus and cracked down on Naxals.

"Entire Chhattisgarh is gradually getting rid of Naxalism and heading on the path of development," Shah said.

With PTI inputs