Raipur: Contests in 7 seats are set to attract most attention during much awaited Chhattisgarh assembly elections as they feature prominent leaders of the Congress and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).
In an attempt to communicate closely with the people of Chhattisgarh, CM Baghel announced his WhatsApp channel today. “Connecting with everyone through WhatsApp channel will make communication easier. You all can now join WhatsApp also by clicking on this link. Thank You”, tweeted CM Baghel.
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel currently represents Durg district, a rural constituency that borders capital Raipur. Baghel has been elected five times from this seat since 1993 while in 2008, he lost to his distant nephew who is a BJP candidate, Vijay Baghel. This time, BJP has again fielded Vijay Baghel from this seat.
Ambikapur, a tribal dominated seat in North Chhattisgarh is currently being held by deputy CM TS Singh Deo. A scion of an erstwhile royal family, Singh Deo is a three-time MLA and won his seat first in 2008. However, his constituency is witnessing protests by local villagers and tribals agains the coal mines allotted to the Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RRVUNL).
Rajnandgaon is another crucial seat currently held by BJP President and three-time chief minister Raman Singh. In 2018 assembly polls, Congress has fielded Karuna Shukla who had quit BJP and joined the grand old party who lost to Singh by 16,933 votes.
One of the most influential tribal leaders of the state is the Industry and Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma as he won five times in a row since 1998. He is most seen a triangular contest between Congress, BJP and Communist Party of India. This Scheduled Tribes reserved seat falls in the Naxal affected Sukma district in South Chhattisgarh.
Kondagaon, a district in South Chhattisgarh is being held by former state Congress chief Mohan Markam. He defeated BJP’s tribal woman leader and former minister Lata Usendi in 2013 and again in 2018. Speaker of the Chhattisgarh assembly Charandas Mahant, another prominent OBC Leader of the Congress represents the seat of Sakti. Mahant has been a four-time MLA and was first elected from this seat in 2018.
Next on the list is the seat in Kabirdham district, currently held by Mohammad Akbar. A four-time MLA, he contested first in 2018 and won with a big margin of 59,284 votes against BJP’s Ashok Sahu. Hours after the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced the dates for Chhattisgarh Assembly polls, BJP, the primary opposition party of the state released its list of 64 candidates.