On Sunday, the Congress party released its first list of candidates for the Chhattisgarh assembly elections. The Congress party declared this list on the first day of Navratri. The party has announced its candidates for 30 seats.
The ruling party in the state has given ticket to chief minister Bhupesh Baghel from 62-Patan constituency, while senior party leader and Deputy CM TS Singh Deo is fielded from 10-Ambikapur constituency.
Here’s the first list of candidates released by the Congress:
Apart from the CM and Deputy CM, the names of 28 more candidates are included in the first list of the party. Congress has also decided to field MPs, like their opposition BJP. The party has fielded Bastar MP and state president Deepak Baij from 87-Chitrakoot (reserved for ST) seat.
Responding over the party’s first list of candidates, state party chief Deepak Baij said: “Whoever is made a candidate by Congress will win. The list is released after contemplating every seat. BJP has given tickets to those who have already been rejected by the people. Party has asked me to contest, and I will file my nomination from the Chitrakoot constituency. People and party workers will work there. We have family relations with the people of Chitrakoot. I will win even if we do not go for any campaign over there. Our CM can contest from any seat he wants, he will win. Even the central leadership cannot affect it. He would win historically. In the upcoming list also, we will prioritise women.” (As quoted by ANI))
#WATCH | Raipur: On Congress party's first list of candidates for Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections, Chhattisgarh Congress President Deepak Baij says, "Whoever is made a candidate by Congress will win… The list is released after contemplating every seat… BJP has given tickets… pic.twitter.com/kTZ85FxBIP
— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2023
Moreover, Congress has also made the son of late leader Mahendra Karma its candidate. K Chhaviendra Mahendra Karma has been declared candidate from 88-Dantewada constituency. Congress has fielded Girish Dewangan from 75-Rajnandgaon, the seat of former senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister Raman Singh. Well, the Congress party didn’t field a strong candidate against the former CM.
CM Baghel congratulates candidates
CM Bhupesh Baghel also reacted when the list of candidates was released. The CM wrote on X, “Chhattisgarh got the blessings of Mahtari, now the people of the region will also give blessings. The list of candidates for the Assembly elections 2023 has been released today, on the auspicious occasion, on the first day of Navratri. Best wishes to all the candidates. Thanks to the leadership for giving me another chance from Patan assembly.”
छत्तीसगढ़ महतारी का मिला आशीर्वाद
अब क्षेत्र की जनता भी देगी आशीर्वादविधानसभा चुनाव 2023 के लिए आज नवरात्रि के प्रथम दिन, शुभ अवसर पर प्रत्याशियों की सूची जारी हुई है.
सभी प्रत्याशियों को ढेर सारी शुभकामनाएँ.
पाटन विधानसभा से पुनः मौक़ा देने के लिए नेतृत्व का आभार. pic.twitter.com/dqE0RvwivV
— Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) October 15, 2023
The Election Commission of India (ECI) has already announced the schedule for the legislative assembly elections in all the five states including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana. Polling in Chhattisgarh will be finished in two phases, i.e., on November 7, 2023 and November 17, 2023, while all other states will observe polling on all seats in a single day. Counting of votes and declaration of results will take place on December 3 for all five states.