An estimated 53 per cent of the 63.9 lakh voters on Friday exercised their right to franchise in 39 Assembly seats of Naxal-hit Chattisgarh, where polling was held in the first phase, election officials said.

While a maximum of 70 per cent turnout was reported in Dhamtari district, 65 per cent of voters cast their ballots in
Mahasumund, district electoral officials said.

Chhattisgarh: Violence marks first phase of polling

In Maoist-infested Bastar and Dantewara, the turnout was 60 per cent and 45 per cent respectively.

In Kanker, 50 per cent of the voters cast their votes, 60 per cent in Durg, 65 per cent in Rajnand Gaon, 36 per
Cent in Narayanpur, 61 per cent in Kabirdham and Bijapur recorded 21.02 per cent.

Naxals steal EVMs in Chhattisgarh

Polling in 27 assembly constituencies began at about 8 am while it started at 7 am in 12 seats in Naxal-hit areas -- Dantewada, Konta, Bijapur, Chitrakote, Narayanpur, Bhanupratappur, Antagarh, Keshkal, Kondagaon,Bastar, Jagdalpur and Kanker. Voting ended in these constituencies at 3 pm.

Chhattisgarh polls: Bastar holds the key

Electoral fortunes of 379 candidates were sealed in the Electronic Voting Machines with prominent leaders being Chief Minister Raman Singh from Rajnandgaon, Leader of Opposition Mahendra Karma (Dantewada), Assembly Speaker Premprakash Pandey (Bhilai), sitting ministers Hemchand Yadav (Durg) and Lata Usendi (Kondagaon).

The rest 51 seats in the 90-member House will be going to polls on November 20.