Chhattisgarh polls: Tea-seller eyes CM's turf from Jogi's party; takes on Raman As a child, he used to assist his father in selling tea and later became an astute politician? Sounding familiar? Here is one Deepak Yadav, 30, used to sell tea, worked as a labourer earning Rs 175 a day, won election as a municipal corporator a couple of years ago and is now trying to force a tri-angular contest in Rajnandgaon—the constituency of Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh, who also began his political career as a local body elected representative. Ahead of Chhattisgarh polls, BSF jawan killed in IED blast, Maoist gunned down One sub-inspector sustained severe injuries in the incident and was evacuated immediately to Udanpur BSF camp but he succumbed to his injuries within a few hours, while undergoing treatment. The sub-inspector was identified as Mahendra Singh who hailed from Bharatpur in Rajasthan. In another incident, a Maoist was killed in Bedre area of Bijapur district when a gun battle broke out between security forces and Maoists. Sitting in AC rooms, 'Urban Maoists' have ruined the lives of adivasis: PM Narendra Modi PM Narendra Modi addressing an election rally in Chhattisgarh's Jagdalpur said that urban Maoists who live a comfortable life themselves, "ruin the lives of our poor Adivasi youth here through remote control" and asked, "Why is Congress supporting these Urban Maoists?" He slammed the Naxals accusing them of exploiting young children by arming them. In Maoist hotbed, PM Modi slams 'urban Naxals', Congress PM Narendra Modi accused the Congress of trying to protect "urban Naxals" facing legal action initiated by the government and said Maoists enjoying city comforts were ruining the lives of poor tribals in remote areas. "Naxalites kill our jawans and Congress calls them revolutionaries. The nation will never forgive such politicians," Modi said. RAIPUR: Amidst unprecedented security with deployment of more than one lakh security personnel and aerial surveillance, Chhattisgarh’s 18 assembly constituencies in the Maoist-affected areas are going to polls in the first phase of elections on Monday.As many as 650 companies, including from the para-military forces such as CRPF, BSF, ITBP, and more than 65,000 personnel of police force from other states and 200 companies of Chhattisgarh state police force have been deployed to ensure fearless, free and fair polling in 18 constituencies spread over Maoist-affected seven districts including Bastar and Rajnandgaon. Indian Air Force (IAF) and BSF choppers have also been pressed into service to airlift polling parties to remote areas in the forested tribal region.More than 31 lakh voters, including about 16 lakh women and 89 third genders, are eligible to exercise their franchise in these 18 constituencies to elect their representatives from among 190 candidates in the fray. In the worst Maoist-affected constituency of Konta (ST) constituency in Sukma district, 40 hyper-sensitive polling stations have been identified. About 4336 polling stations have been set up in these constituencies.Chief minister Raman Singh, who is vying for a fourth consecutive term, is seeking re-election from Rajnandgaon where he is facing Congress candidate Karuna Shukla, niece of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Other prominent candidates who are trying their electoral luck are school education minister Kedar kashyap (Narayanpur-ST), forest minister Mahesh Gaggda (Bijapur-ST), Congress legislature party deputy leader Kawasi Lakma (Konta-ST) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief ministerial candidate Komal Hupendi ( Bhanupratapur-ST).Of the 18 seats going to poll in the first phase, 12 are reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST) while one for Scheduled Caste (SC) category.The time of polling in 10 constituencies - Mohla-Manpur, Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Keshkal, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur and Konta - is from 7am to 3pm while in the rest of the constituencies - Khairgarh, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Khujji, Bastar, Jagdalpur and Chitrakot - is from 8am till 5pm.A senior police official said the security forces are keeping a close vigil in all the constituencies, particularly in the light of call given by the Maoists for boycott of elections. Besides, adequate security has been provided to polling parties, who have already moved to their destinations. The security cover would continue till they return to these bases with electronic voting machines after polling.In the last 10 days, over 300 IEDs were recovered from Bastar region and Rajnandgaon districts by security forces while Special Forces were guarding the inter-state borders of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.Maoists have called for boycott of polls in state and have attacked thrice in a span of fortnight leaving 13 people, including eight security personnel, dead and five injured.Four civilians and a CISF jawan were killed when Naxals detonated a bus with an improvised explosive device (IED) in Dantewada district on November 8.On October 30, three police personnel and a cameraman of Doordarshan were killed in a Maoist attack in Aranpur area of Dantewada. On October 27, four CRPF personnel, belonging to 168th battalion were killed and two others injured after Maoists blew up their bullet proof bunker vehicle in Awapalli area of Bijapur district.The second phase of the Chhattisgarh election will be held on November 20 and the votes will be counted on December 11.

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