Lok Sabha election 2019; Phase 2: In Chhattisgarh, officials believe voters will defy Maoist threat, claim voter turnout will pip 2014 figures

Chhattisgarh: The first phase of polling in Bastar witnessed a 5 percent increase in overall voters' turnout this election in comparison to 2014 (59 percent). Even, in Dantewada, where the Maoists killed the sitting BJP MLA Bhima Mandavi and his four security personnel by triggering an IED blast on 9 April - two days ahead of the first phase of polling on 11 April, the polling recorded was 56 percent, which is 6 percent more than in 2014