Chhattisgarh Polls: PM Modi to address rally in Naxalite-hit Kanker

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (November 2) is set to address a rally in election-bound Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh. This is his first public meeting in the state after the announcement of the poll schedule.

The PM's rally will be held in the Naxalite-hit Kanker district that is going to polls in the first phase of two-phased polls in the state, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary said.

PM Modi will arrive in an Indian Air Force aircraft at the Raipur airport at 12.55 pm on Thursday and will leave for Kanker in a helicopter. His rally is scheduled to be held at 3 p.m. in Kanker town.

Police said a massive security cover has been put in place at the rally venue.

A multi-layered security blanket, involving personnel of the state police and paramilitary force besides the Special Protection Group (SPG), has been put in place in the area, located around 150 km from the capital Raipur in the north Bastar region.

Chhattisgarh will go to the assembly polls in two phases on November 7 and 17, and the counting of votes will be held on December 3.

Voters from 20 assembly constituencies will exercise their franchise on November 7, while the rest of the 70 seats will go to the polls on November 17.

(with agency inputs)