CG BREAKING: Voting took place for the first time in 4 villages after 77 years

Sukma. Voting for the third and final phase of the three-tier panchayat elections in Chhattisgarh was conducted peacefully in Konta block of Sukma district on Saturday. During this, voting took place for the first time in 5 panchayats of the block after 77 years of independence. During this, the villagers exercised their franchise without any fear. The most beautiful picture in this panchayat election came from Poorvarti village, which is called the stronghold of Maoists, where the villagers, for the first time, defying the Naxal terror, not only participated in the great festival of democracy, but also demanded water, road and education in their village. Even before the voting started in the morning, a crowd of villagers started gathering in the polling booth number 13 set up in the Anganwadi center of Poorvarti. Votes were cast in Poorvarti for ward numbers 9 to 17. Poorvarti village is also special because this area was the stronghold of the Naxalites’ PLGA. Where the Jantana Sarkar of Naxal leader Madvi Hidma used to run. In the Naxal-affected areas of Konta block, which has been suffering from Naxalism for the last 40 years, elections have been boycotted due to the Naxal decree. This is the reason that the villagers were not only hesitant about the elections but also shying away from discussing it. The security camp opened here after last February has completely changed the picture of the area. A polling booth was set up next to the house of the notorious Naxal commander Hidma in Poorvarti village. Earlier there was a time when the villagers were scared of Hidma’s name and did not come out of their houses to vote. Today, the voters of the same village participated in the voting for the Panchayat elections in large numbers. After the tireless efforts of the police and administration, Poorvarti has been freed from Naxalism. Work is going on at a rapid pace in the village under the Solar Line and Nal Jan Yojana. Youth Joga Madkami, Doddi Lalu, Santosh Bodke and Baddars Bodke, who came to vote, said that with the help of the police and administration, the village has been freed from Naxalism.

But for years, people have been waiting for infrastructure here. She said that we are very happy with the opening of polling booths in the village. We are voting in a fear-free environment in our own village. The villagers have become quite aware of their right to vote. Therefore, women reached the polling booths of Poorvarti carrying their child in their lap to cast their vote. Similarly, Madkam Nande, who reached to cast her vote carrying her child in her lap, said that voting is taking place in the village for the first time. She said that voting is necessary for the development of the village. We are all very happy about the Panchayat elections. In this way, the rural voters of Poorvarti village played their active part in the local elections with full enthusiasm and gave proof of being aware voters. In the third phase of the three-tier Panchayat elections, voting took place for the first time in many highly sensitive villages of Sukma and Bijapur districts. Villages like Poorvarti were called the capital of Naxalites till some time ago, but after the opening of camps in these areas, the picture here has changed. For the first time, the villagers are able to cast their votes in their own village. Home Minister Vijay Sharma, who was on a visit to Bastar, said that there are more than 100 villages where voting is taking place for the first time. Vijay Sharma said that earlier the polling booths of Purvarti had to be shifted to Silger due to Naxal terror, but now the villagers themselves are coming forward to elect their government.