Raipur: A significant blow to the Congress has occurred in Chhattisgarh, as their legislator Chintamani Maharaj has joined the BJP under the leadership of Om Mathur, the state in-charge of the BJP. Maharaj, bedecked with a saffron stole, made his return to the BJP. This development was driven by the fact that the Congress denied him a ticket to contest the upcoming election from the Samri constituency in Chhattisgarh.
Chintamani Maharaj previously served as the Chairman of the Chhattisgarh State Sanskrit Board from 2004 to 2008. In 2008, he contested the independent elections in the Samri constituency of Balarampur district, facing defeat. However, in 2013, he made a comeback in the same constituency, marking the difference that he decided to contest on the Congress ticket.
In the 2018 state legislative assembly elections, the Congress once again reposed faith in him, and he contested from the Samri constituency. This time, he was pitted against BJP candidate Siddhanath Paikara, whom he managed to defeat. Maharaj secured a total of 180,620 votes, while his close rival from the BJP, Siddhanath Paikara, garnered 58,697 votes.
Chintamani Maharaj’s switch from the Congress to the BJP is a significant political development in Chhattisgarh, marking a shift in the political landscape of the state. His journey from an independent candidate to a Congress MLA and now to the BJP reflects the changing political alignments and priorities in the region. The upcoming elections in Chhattisgarh will likely see increased competition and new dynamics as parties strive to secure victory and representation in the state assembly.
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