An Indian Air Force Mi17 V-5 helicopter hovers over the Bhamragarh forest on the Maharashtra-Chhattisgarh boundary. The rotor blades kick up a dust storm, and the chopper disgorges 27 polling officers into the heart of central India’s red corridor. A few kilometres from Gatta, deep in Chhattisgarh, the People’s Liberation Guerrilla Army has just killed BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi.

The violence has spilt on to the 36 km Etappli-Gatta route, which is ravaged by IEDs. Red banners are everywhere, warning electoral teams and candidates of death if even a single vote is cast.

The Election Commission team has been closeted in a police station. As they are transported under security to the booth, a bicycle-mounted bomb rips off portions of Booth No. 115, barely 150 metres away. “We prayed to god, even after the commandos assured us safety,” says Suhas Patil, a forest ranger who has opted for election duty despite the threats.

A second blast goes off in an open field behind the station. The team is protected for the next 48 hours by a contingent of C-60 commandos that’s been formed by the Maharashtra police from among the tribal people.

The first phase of polling begins with some 60% of the 965 voters queuing up in the shadow of the drones hovering overhead. At 8.30 a.m., the team throws open a ghotul (tribal community centre), which is Booth No. 115.

Patil instructs commandos and voters about the drill follows. At 3 p.m., the team has registered 609 votes and they shut shop. By the time the chopper lands at 3.45 p.m. two more blasts have gone off in the vicinity. But it is a ‘thumbs up’ for the team with a 63.1% turnout, higher than the Gadchiroli average.

The Vateli, Gardewada, Gardewada (Puskoti) and Gardewada (Vangeturi) booths of Gadchiroli district were not so lucky. Polling could not be conducted in these places.

(Images and text by Prashant Nakwe)