Chhattisgarh: Voting takes place in Naxal hit villages after 7 decades

A number of  Naxal-hit village in Chhattisgarh voted for the first time ever since independence on Sunday during the ongoing Panchayat polls in the state. The people of Sukma district’s Kerlapenda village queued up amid tight security to cast their vote during the third phase of the state panchayat polls.People reached the voting centre in Bhopalpatnam village by crossing over difficult terrains such as dense forests and rivers and covering a distance of as long as 70 kilometers to cast their votes, the ANI report said. Konta, a heavily Naxal-affected region in Sukma, witnessed a historic moment as villagers of Poorvarti--once an inaccessible stronghold of the most-wanted Naxal leader Hidma--cast their votes fearlessly.Voters from remote Maoist-affected villages, including Pentachimli, Keralapenda, Duled, Sunnamguda and Poorvarti, participated enthusiastically. 

#WATCH | Sukma: In the third phase of the Chhattisgarh Panchayat Elections, the citizens of Kerlapenda village cast their vote for the first time after Independence. (23.02) pic.twitter.com/WMtTYycGZV

— ANI (@ANI) February 23, 2025

This was also the first time for the people of Kerlapenda village to raise their concerns in front of politicians and people from nearby villages also reached out to cast votes, said another resident.For years, government access to this area was nearly impossible due to Naxal dominance. However, with the establishment of a security camp in Poorvarti, development initiatives have reached the village. 
The first phase of Chhattisgarh panchayat polls was held on February 17 and the second phase was on February 20. A provisional voter turnout of 77.54 per cent was recorded on Sunday for the third phase, however, the number might go up.The Chhattisgarh government continues its relentless efforts to eradicate Naxalism in Bastar. With ongoing security operations, the grip of extremism is weakening, paving the way for democracy to flourish in Sukma and beyond.