Chhattisgarh Elections 2023: One of the states where Congress has its government and, if opinion polls are to be believed, is placed in a stronger position than BJP, is Chhattisgarh. The state goes to polls on Tuesday (Nov 7) in its first phase with 20 constituencies on the list while 70 others will vote in the second phase on Nov 17. Apart from the hope to win as many seats as possible, both parties will have their fingers crossed on result day for their crucial candidates. Here are some key faces Congress and BJP have fielded for the assembly elections in Chhattisgarh.
Congress's Big Bets In Polls
Bhupesh Baghel: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is seeking re-election from his constituency Patan which he has won for five times since 1993. He will be facing off his nephew and BJP's Vijay Baghel, who is currently a Lok Sabha MP from Durg. The two have earlier challenged each other twice with each winning once.
TS Singh Deo: Presently the Deputy CM of Chhattisgarh, but a CM contender and a Congress heavyweight, TS Singh Deo will be contesting polls from Ambikapur against BJP's Rajesh Aggarwal. Deo first won the seat in 2008.
Charandas Mahant: Another key Congress name to look for is Charandas Mahant, currently the assembly speaker, fighting the polls from Sakti assembly constituency. Mahant won the seat for the first time in 2018. According to IANS, in the four elections held in the state, people have voted against the sitting legislator. BJP has fielded Khilawan Sahu against Mahant.
Kawasi Lakhma: Congress has retained Kawasi Lakhma as its candidate from his current seat -- Konta. The MLA will contest the polls against BJP's Soyam Muka.
Umesh Patel: Current Congress MLA from Kharsia, Patel leads the constituency that is being dominated by the OBC community Aghariya. Patel is also the Higher Education Minister of Chhattisgarh and has been elected five times. Umesh Patel will be up against BJP's Mahesh Sahu.
BJP's Big Guns Against Congress
Raman Singh: Former CM Raman Singh is seeking a win from his stronghold seat Rajnandgaon. A six-time MLA who won the seat thrice since 2008, Singh will take on the electoral battle against Congress's Girish Devangan.
Brijmohan Agrawal: A former state minister and prominent BJP leader, Brijmohan Agrawal will fight polls from Raipur City South which he claimed in the last (2018) elections. Agrawal has remained undefeated since 1990 and hence Congress has pitted Mahant Ramsundar Das of Dudhadhari Temple against him.
Arun Sao: One of the CM candidates in the BJP, Arun Sao has been fielded by the party from Lormi. A Lok Sabha MP from Bilaspur, Sao is also the chairman of Chhattisgarh State Backward Classes Commission. He is up against Congress's Thaneshwar Sahu.
Renuka Singh: BJP MP and Union Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Renuka Singh is another big name from the party She is running for election from Bharatpur-Sonhat against Congress's sitting MLA Gulab Singh Kamro.
Bhawna Bohra: Fielded from the Pandariya seat against Congress's Neelkanth Chandrawanshi, Bhawna Bohra is popularly known among people as 'Ambulance Wali Didi'. She has a strong grip on both social service and politics.