RAIPUR,CG: A total of 202 companies of security forces have been deployed in seven Lok Sabha constituencies of the state under the third phase Lok Sabha elections in the state. Under the third phase, polling will be held in seven Lok Sabha seats- Surguja, Korba, Raigarh, Bilaspur, Janjgir-Champa, Raipur and Durg in the state on May 7. Campaigning will end at 5 pm on May 5. 

Assistant Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rupesh Verma said that a total of 202 companies have been deployed under the third phase to ensure free and fair elections in the state.

Under the third phase, there are 324 runners in 283 polling stations marked as Shadow Area in 18 districts. Under the third phase, polling teams will leave for concerned polling stations of these seven Lok Sabha constituencies on May 6. Authentication of political advertisements to be published in newspapers dated on May 6 and 7 will be necessary, he added.

The Assistant CEO said that 28,396 postal ballots have been received for first, second and third phase Lok Sabha elections in the state by May 2.

Commissioning of all the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) was completed in all the seven parliamentary constituencies of the state.

A total of 1,416 complaints have been received through cVigil, in which actions were taken on 1,021 complaints, 387 complaints were dropped and remaining eight complaints are under process.

Total 3,136 applications for permission of publicity have been received, in which 2,855 applications have been approved and 251 applications were rejected and remaining 30 applications are under process.

73,985 banners, 1,18,430 posters, 1,41,970 wall writings and 1,00,195 other materials have been seized.

Total 646 election related complaints were received, in which 357 complaints were disposed of and remaining complaints are under process.

Rs 7.17 crore cash, 51,804.51 kilogramme liquor worth Rs 2.23 crore, 12,934.51 kilogramme drugs worth Rs 25.71 crore, 161.27 kilogramme precious metals worth Rs 15.98 crore and freebies worth Rs 14.93 crore were seized.