Assembly Elections 2018: Campaigning Ends in Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram; Single-Phase Polls on Wednesday
Results of both the states will be declared on December 11. While the BJP is in power in Madhya Pradesh for the last 15 years, the Congress has been ruling Mizoram over the past 10 years.
Bhopal/Aizawl, November 26: Campaigning in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram concluded at 5pm today, with assembly elections scheduled in both the states on Wednesday. The Election Commission will bar political parties, as well as independent candidates, from directly reaching out to the electorate till the voting concludes.
In both the states, all legislative constituencies are being contested in a single-phase. In Madhya Pradesh - where 230 seats are being contested - the polling body has earmarked nearly 65,000 voting booths. "This is about 21 per cent more than the last time," said Chief Electoral Officer V L Kantha Rao. MP Assembly Elections 2018 Low Points: List of Most Controversial Speeches & Remarks in Campaign Trail.
"I can assure you that with this increase in the number of polling booths, no voter in Madhya Pradesh will have to travel more than 2 kms to vote," Rao added.
Taking about the poll panel's action against illegal inducements being used to lure voters in Madhya Pradesh, Rao said suspect cash, drugs and other items worth over Rs 63.45 crore have been seized in the state till now as compared to more than Rs 27.61 crore of such seizures during the entire poll period in 2013.
In Mizoram, where 40 seats are being contested, the Election Commission has earmarked 1,164 polling stations for the single-phase polls.
Along with the state armed police, 40 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) would also be deployed in critical polling stations and also in those at vulnerable locations, Joint Chief Electoral Officer Zorammuana said.
Results of both the states will be declared on December 11. While the BJP is in power in Madhya Pradesh for the last 15 years, the Congress has been ruling Mizoram over the past 10 years.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 26, 2018 06:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).