## Chandameta Votes for the First Time in History
In a historic moment, Chandameta, a village in the insurgency-hit Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, participated in Lok Sabha elections for the first time since India's independence. This milestone comes just days after security forces achieved a significant victory in anti-Naxal operations, eliminating 29 Naxals in the region.
Previously considered a Naxal stronghold, Chandameta, with its 325 registered voters, including 162 women, finally exercised their democratic right to elect a Lok Sabha candidate. The establishment of a security camp in the village instilled confidence in the residents, allowing them to cast their votes without fear.
Amidst heavy security deployment, residents of Chandameta and neighboring villages enthusiastically participated in the voting process. Polling officials, accompanied by security personnel, safely transported the EVMs back to base after the 3 pm deadline.
Bastar was the only one of Chhattisgarh's 11 Lok Sabha constituencies to participate in the first phase of the general elections. The remaining seats will go to polls on April 26 and May 7.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 9 of the 11 seats in the state, while the Congress secured only 2, including Bastar. Deepak Baij of the Congress party emerged victorious in Bastar.
The first phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 commenced on Friday across 102 parliamentary constituencies in 21 states and Union Territories. The Election Commission deployed 18 lakh security personnel across the 102 constituencies and set up 1.87 lakh polling stations for the opening phase.