Chhattisgarh Assembly Election 2018: Ahead of the much crucial Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, chief minister Raman Singh today filed his nomination for the upcoming polls. However, what made the event a hotbed was Singh touching feet of his Uttar Pradesh counterpart Yogi Adityanath, who is 20 years junior to him. Singh, before filing his nomination from Rajnandgaon constituency, touched feet of Adiyanath to take his blessings for the forthcoming Assembly elections. The 66-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader is seeking fourth terms as the CM of the state. Singh is a two-time MLA from Rajanandgaon constituency and had got elected from Dongargaon assembly constituency in Rajnandgaon district.

Singh joined the Bharatiya Jan Sangh when he was a student in the early 1970s and became the president of its youth wing in 1976-77. Interestingly, Yogi Adityanath was born in 1972. Adityanath has completed a little over one-and-a-half years as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. Due to Adityanath’s position as the head priest of the Gorakhnath temple, several political figures bow in front of him. Even President Ram Nath Kovind, during his swearing-in ceremony, was seen bowing before Adityanath.
Adityanath visited the naxal-hit state to campaign for his party ahead of the Assembly polls.

The two chief ministers also addressed a rally in Rajnandgaon earlier today. Before filing the nomination, Singh said, “I have full faith in the strength of party workers and booth-level workers. The BJP has dedicated this election to Atal ji and each party worker has vowed to form (BJP) government for the fourth consecutive term with a thumping majority in the state.”

On being asked about Karuna Shukla contesting against him, Singh said, “They (Congress) did not get any local candidate. Today was the last day of filing of nominations for the first phase of state Assembly polls which will take place on November 12. Candidates from contending parties including BJP, Congress, BSP and others have filed their nominations for the 18 seats spread across eight Naxal-affected districts of Bastar, Bijapur, Dantewada, Sukma, Kondagaon, Kanker, Narayanpur and Rajnandgaon.