The initial list of thirty candidates for the Chhattisgarh assembly elections was released by the Congress on Sunday. Elections for 20 of Chhattisgarh’s seats will take place in the first phase on November 7 and for the remaining 70 seats on November 17. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel of Patan and Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo of Ambikapur have been nominated by the ruling party in the state. In the meantime, Girish Devangan, a candidate for the Congress, has been nominated in Rajnandgaon to challenge BJP leader and former state chief minister Raman Singh.
Congress leader Taradhwaj Sahu will contest the polls from Durg (Rural), Ravindra Choubey from Nawagarh, Yashoda Verma from Khairagarh, Vikram Mandavi from Bijapur, Lakheshwar Baghel from Bastar, Deepak Baiji from Chitrakot and K Chavindra Karma Dantewada.
The counting of votes will take place on December 3 in all the states. Of the five states, polling in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases. The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with the announcement of poll dates.
Earlier after the 2018 assembly polls, the Congress witnessed a landslide victory winning 68 seats out of 90 of those against the then ruling-BJP, which acquired 15 seats.
Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party are the key players in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. Telangana is expected to witness a triangular contest between the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Congress and BJP.
