In the first phase of the Chhattisgarh assembly elections, voters in Maoist-affected areas will cast their votes for 20 seats, with over 25,000 security personnel deployed for their safety. Here are 10 key points about this important event:
1. Out of the 20 seats, 12 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes and one for Scheduled Castes. Rajnandgaon constituency has the highest number of contestants (29), while Chitrakot and Dantewada seats have the lowest number of candidates (seven each).
2. The Congress party focused its campaign on the various welfare schemes implemented by the Baghel government for farmers, women, tribals, and Dalits. They also promised to waive farm loans if they remain in power.
3. During the first phase of campaigning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel over the alleged Mahadev betting app scam. Other BJP leaders discussed issues such as religious conversion, deteriorating law and order, and corruption.
4. Prominent candidates from the ruling party in the first phase include Chhattisgarh Congress chief and MP Deepak Baij (Chitrakot), ministers Kawasi Lakhma (Konta), Mohan Markam (Kondagaon), Mohammad Akbar (Kawardha), and Chhavindra Karma (Dantewada), the son of late leader Mahendra Karma.
5. Former Chief Minister Raman Singh is contesting from Ranjangaon on behalf of the BJP, facing competition from Girish Dewangan, the chairman of Chhattisgarh State Mineral Development Corporation.
6. Other notable BJP leaders in this phase include former ministers Lata Usendi (Kondagaon seat), Vikram Usendi (Antagarh), Kedar Kashyap (Narayanpur), Mahesh Gagda (Bijapur), and former IAS officer Neelkanth Tekam from Keshkal.
7. The Aam Aadmi Party’s state unit chief, Komal Hupendi, is contesting from the Bhanupratappur seat. MLA Anup Nag, who was denied a ticket by the Congress, is running as an independent candidate in the Antagarh seat.
8. The Congress currently holds 71 seats in the 90-member assembly. In the 2018 elections, they dealt a heavy blow to the BJP, which had been ruling the state since 2003.
9. Voting will take place between 7 am and 3 pm in the following 10 seats: Mohla-Manpur, Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Keshkal, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Konta.
10. In Khairagarh, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Khujji, Pandariya, and Kawardha Bastar, Jagdalpur, and Chitrakot, voting hours will be from 8 am to 5 pm.
These details have been compiled with inputs from PTI.
