Chhattisgarh election 2018: 62 Naxals surrendered before police in Narayanpur district

As many as sixty-two ‘hardcore naxals’ have surrendered before the security forces in Chhattisgarh ahead of the much crucial Assembly elections, police said. Soon after the incident was reported, Union Minister Rajnath Singh described the development as a massive achievement. Of the 62 Naxals, 55 surrendered with their arms and ammunition in Narayanpur district, Inspector General of Police (Bastar) Vivekanand Sinha told news agency PTI. Sinha also stated that these Maoists were operating under the Kutul area committee of the CP (Maoists) and also believed that more Naxals will surrender in the coming days. Voting for the 90-seat Chhattisgarh Assembly is scheduled to take place in two phases - on November 12 for 18 seats and on November 20 for 72 constituencies. Most of the constituencies in the first phase fall in the state's Bastar region. The Naxals have called for a boycott of the elections. On October 30, four people, including a Doordarshan journalist, were killed in an ambush by Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district. The incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Raman Singh government, which is ruling the state for the last 15 years, is seeking to win its fourth electoral term. However, the Congress claims to dethrone the incumbent government and win the polls. The first phase of the assembly elections, scheduled to take place on November 12, will have all eyes as both BJP and Congress are going full throttle to lure voters in the area which has resulted in a political mudslinging amongst each other. The most crucial electoral battle in the state will be witnessed in Rajnandgaon seat where incumbent CM Raman Singh is pitted against former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's niece Karuna Shukla. She was also a part of the BJP for over 30 years, before switching to Congress in 2014.