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Chhattisgarh headed for polling in two phases on November 12 and November 20. The tenure of the current Assembly is slated to end on January 5, 2019.
A party requires 46 seats to for a simple majority.
The voter turnout in Chhattisgarh was 76.35 percent against 77.40 percent in 2013. The two-phase voting happened after weeks of intense campaigning by state-level leaders from both sides and national level leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP National President Amit Shah and Congress President Rahul Gandhi.
The state, created in the year 200, has been governed by a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government since 2003. Chief Minister Raman Singh has occupied the top office in the state for three terms. If Singh is able to retain power, he would have achieved a rear feat of winning a fourth term.
Congress did not project a chief ministerial face. The campaign was led by state unit President Bhupesh Baghel and senior leader TS Deo.
Congress is hoping to come to power in the state. However, former chief minister Ajit Jogi-led Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) which has a tie-up with Mayawati’s BSP, could play a spoiler.
Chief Minister probable Tamradhwaj Sahuhas threatened to resign from the party if not made the CM, News18has reported quoting sources. Sahu is one of the four front-runners for the top post, along with state chief Bhupesh Baghel, Leader of Opposition in the outgoing Assembly TS Singh Deo and former Union minister Charan Das Mahant.
I will stay in state politics: Raman Singh
Outgoing Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said that he will not move to the Centre but remain in state politics. The Congress, in the recently concluded election, ended the BJP's 15-year rule in the state.... Read More
Mallikarjun Kharge, the observer appointed for Chhattisgarh, said that RahulGandhi will decide the Chief Minister and announce his decision tomorrow, News18has reported.
With the appointment of KamalNath as the Chief Minister of MadhyaPradesh and Ashok Gehlot for Rajasthan, Chhattisgarhis the only state which is yet to get its CM. Probables for the post,Bhupesh Baghel, TS Singh Deo and Charan Das Mahant had reportedly had a meeting with Congress president RahulGandhi in Delhi today. While Baghel and Singh Deo are considered to be front-runners, Tamradhwaj Sahu is being considered as the dark horse.
New Chhattisgarh Assembly: Younger, more educated and higher number of women representatives
The 2013 Assembly had six MLAs between the ages of 25-40 as opposed to the newly-elected Assembly, which has over 16 legislators in that age group... Read More
Chhattisgarh CM probable TS Singh Deo has been called to Delhi, News18 has reported.
Decision regarding CM candidate to be taken tomorrow: Mallikarjun Kharge
Congress-appointed observer Mallikarjun Kharge has said that the meeting with Congress president RahulGandhi "has been postponed for tomorrow". He said that a decision regarding the state's CM candidate will be taken tomorrow.
MallikarjunKhargeand P.L.Puniahave reached Congress presidentRahulGandhi's residence,News18has reported.Khargehas been appointed as the observer forChhattisgarhwhilePuniais the general secretary in-charge.
Post the rout in three Hindi heartland states of MadhyaPradesh, Chhattisgarhand Rajasthan, the BJP has decided in its officer bearers' meet that PM Modiwould tour 122 constituencies where the BJP presence is poor, News18has reported. The saffron party has decided to focus on organisational strength.
Clashes outside state chief Bhupesh Baghel's residence
Clashes have broken outside Congress state chief BhupeshBaghel's residence, News18has reported. Baghelis at a frontrunnerfor the Chief Ministerial post in the state.
New Chhattisgarh Assembly: Younger, more educated and
higher number of women representatives
Of the 90 members elected to the assembly, 13 are women, three more than the last Assembly.
The number of youth leaders, meanwhile, has increased a by a good10. The 2013 Assembly had six MLAs between the ages of 25-40 as opposed to the newly-elected Assembly, which has over 16 legislators in that age group.
Even as the suspense on who would lead Chhattisgarhcontinues, all four candidates in the fray are state heavyweights with things working for them on different fronts. BhupeshBaghel, according to party leaders in the state, wields cadre-level influence while TamradhwajSahu, who was appointed to lead the party's OBCcell and gather Sahuinfluence, is known to be an untainted leader close to top Congress leadership.
TS Singh Deo, belonging to an erstwhile royal family, was also one of the richest candidates who reportedly helped a number of MLAs, consolidating influence within the party. Deois the Leader of Opposition in the outgoing Assembly. He had also helped in charting the party manifesto and had traveled across the state before the elections. Charan Das Mahant is a former Union minister and a Member of Parliament.
RahulGandhi’s meeting with observers is underway.
“We are taking inputs from MLAs and party workers. You will see a chief minister soon,” Rahul Gandhi has told the media while on his way to the crucial meeting called to pick CMs for Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.
Congress is expected to announce Chhattisgarh's new Chief Minister today.Leader of Opposition in the outgoing assembly TS Singh Deo, Congress' single MP from the state TamradhwajSahu, state unit chief Bhupesh Baghel and former union minister Charandas Mahant are in fray.
13 women members in new Assembly.
Thirteen women have been elected to theChhattisgarhAssembly in 2018,a risefrom the 10 and 11 women who becameMLAsafter the 2013 and 2008 polls respectively, a state election official said.
Counting of votes concludedfor the 90-member House with results showing Congress winning 68 seats andBJPbeing reduced to 15. (PTI)
After Congress scores thumping victory in Chhattisgarh, focus shifts to CM candidates
The Congress won its most comfortable victory on December 11 in Chhattisgarh, a state ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its poster boy in the state Raman Singh... Read More
Congress to pick Chhattisgarh CM today
The Congress in Chhattisgarh will hold its legislature party meeting today to decide on the next chief minister of the state.
Congress' Lok Sabha member Tamradhwaj Sahu, who successfully contested the Assembly election from Durg Rural seat, state party chief Bhupesh Baghel and senior leader T S Singhdeo are front-runners for the top post, suggest reports.
After the counting, here's how the final result looks:
Congress: 68
BJP: 15
Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J): 5
BSP: 2
Counting concludes, Congress wins 68 seats, BJP 15
Counting concludes in Chhattisgarh. Congress wins 68 seats, BJP 15, Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J) 5 and BSP 2.
Status at 8.15am:
Results declared on 89 out of 90 seats. Counting underway for one seat.
Current tally:
Congresswon 67 and leading on one
BJPwon 15
Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J) won 5
BSP won 2
"Loan waiver is not the solution. It's a supporting step. And we will do it," says Rahul Gandhi.
PM Modi refused to listen to the heartbeat of this country, says Rahul Gandhi
2014 was the best moment for me. I have learnt a lot from that election. I have learnt the most important thing — humility. I have learnt that the most important thing in this country are the people. Mr. Narendra Modi has taught me that lesson. The best teachers for me are the people of this country. PM Modi refused to listen to the heartbeat of this country: Rahul Gandhi
: Rahul Gandhi
There are a couple of central issues – employment to youngsters;insuring the future of farmers in this country; corruption that has been blatantly carried out;demonetisationis a scam. The RBI chief has also resigned, ex-RBI chief has commented about what he thought about demonetisation...By all accounts, Narendra Modi and BJP have failed in providing us with a vision... we would be trying to set structure and architecture for a new vision
: Rahul Gandhi
The process of waiving off farm loans will start as soon as the government is formed
Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi
Prime Minister is not able to take the pressure from the Opposition:
Rahul Gandhi
When the PM was elected, he was elected on the basis ofthree aspects– employment, corruption and farmers.The people thought that the PM will really fight against corruption. Now the question is that the PM himself is corrupt. This question (of PM being corrupt) was not in the minds of the people before, but it has been raised now:
Rahul Gandhi
The EVM question is not being raised only in India, it is a generic question... EVMs have problems universally. There is a chip in the device which can be meddled with and the entire course of election can be changed:
: Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi
This victory shows that the people of this country are not happy with demonetisation, with GST, with unemployment
Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi
There is a sense of discontentment among those who haven't been given jobs despite tall promises. Similar is the case with farmers. What was promised by PM Modi, has not been delivered:
: Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi
We have a lot of work to be done in MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. We have a lot to look forward to in these states.
Rahul Gandhi thanks the voters and Congress members for the states that the Congress won in.
"I want to Congratulate MNF for winning in Mizoram. This is a victory of Congress workers who stood up in difficult circumstances and support the party. It is also a victory ofMSME traders, farmers, the youth," says Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi.
Rahul Gandhi addresses a press conference on the first anniversary of him being appointed as Congress President at AICC Headquarters in New Delhi.
"Chhattisgarh has given a thumping majority to the Congress, ending the three-term rule of Bharatiya Janata Party’s Dr Raman Singh. Although pollsters had predicted a tight contest, it eventually turned out to be one-sided, with the BJP losing a significant percentage (8%+) of its votes in the state. The ‘Third Front’, led by Ajit Jogi’s Chhattisgarh Janata Congress (JCC) with ally Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which was tipped to eat into the Congress vote share, seems to have damaged the prospects of the BJP more than the Congress.
So, how did the Congress win so convincingly in the absence of a wave?" asksAnand Kochukudy, a Delhi-based political commentator.
Victory of Rahul Gandhi and fight against scams: Kapil Sibal
"This is the victory of RahulGandhi, our party, workers, people, and the fight against scams. This is victory of humanity," senior Congress leader KapilSibal said.
I take moral responsibility for the loss... will serve the people in new role: Outgoing CM Raman Singh
"The people of Chhattisgarhhave given a chance to the BJPfor the past 15 years, I am thankful for that. We did what we thought was best for the state. The moral responsibility of this loss should be accepted by me... we are going to play an important and new role of Opposition and serve the people of Chhattisgarhin Opposition. I will continue working for the rest of my life," Incumbent CM Raman Singh said while addressing media.
Singh has said that he has tendered his resignation to the Governor.
"We are going to analyse with everyone about the loss... The elections are fought in state on the basis of issues of the state, general elections will be fought in 2019," Singh added when asked about Congress' claim that this is a result of double anti-incumbency, both at the Center as well as the state.
Ajit Jogi wins from Marwahi constituency
AjitJogi has won from the Marwahi seat, News18 has reported. Jogi's son Amitis the sitting legislator from the seat. AjitJogi's candidature was shrouded in speculation until last days of filing for nomination.
On October 5, BJPPresident Amit Shah addressed a ‘Matrushakti Sammelan’ in Durg. During the rally, Shah called for the “power of the women” voters to not just defeat Congress but also decimate the partythe state.
Although Congress hasn’t addressed a mega rally akin to the BJP in Chhattisgarh yet, its campaigning has highlighted the BJP government’s poor record with women. The party has cited incidents that range from the government’s ignorance of women in policy issues to increase in crime against women in the state.
In Chhattisgarh, as in any other state, women voters play a significant role in deciding the fate of the government. During the 2013 assembly elections, over 77.32 percent women had voted, 0.3 percent more than the male voting percentage.
In these elections, as many as 22 seats out of the 90 going to polls will see women voters play an instrumental role. That is because these 22 seats have more women than men.
"The results of the state elections tell us that huge sections of the population were being left out of that growth and the ruling party knew that and was terribly worried about it.
The signs of disenchantment have been visible for quite some time. As wepointed outa few days ago, the Reserve Bank of India’s consumer confidence survey showed widespread pessimism about the economy, which has now been translated into votes against the government.
Is there reason for concern?" asksManas Chakravarty.
Key Candidates and trends status:
Raman Singh (Rajnandgaon): Leading
Ajit Jogi (Marwahi): Leading
TamradhwajSahu(DurgRural):Leading
Bhupesh Baghel (Patan): Leading
TS Singh Deo (Ambikapur): Won
In the race for Chief Ministership:
Even as the counting is underway, trends over the course of the day have indicated a comfortable Congress lead. Here are the chief minister probables if the party wins in the state:
Bhupesh Baghel: Baghel is the Congress state chief and has been leading the Congress campaign from the front. He is a four-time MLA from Patan, and is leading from the constituency. Baghel has had stints as cabinet minister during the Digvijay Singh government in Madhya Pradesh and then the Ajit Jogi government in Chhattisgarh. He was, however, remanded judicial custody in September this year after the CBI found connection between him circulation of a "fake" sex CD.
Tamrahdwaj Sahu: Sahu is the lone Member of Parliament from the state, and was brought into the assembly battlefield after alleged differences between Baghel and Congress' state in-charge PL Punia. Sahu is the head of the party's OBCcell, and exerts considerable influence over the Sahu vote bank. Known to be a reluctant man, Sahu might be in advantage due to his closeness to RahulGandhi and untainted image.
TS Singh Deo: Deois one of the richest candidates, and is a descendant from an erstwhile royal family. He is the sitting legislator from Ambikapur constituency. Deo has registered his name as 'TS Baba' during this elections since two other candidates in fray from his constituency share his name. Deo had said that the chief minister would be chosen after the poll results in a 'swayamvar'.
Tamradhwaj Sahu, senior Congress leader and the party's head of OBC cell, said that the party's victory is the "victory of the people" and the defeat of "bad governance."
"I credit this win to the people of the state and to RahulGandhi... We are back in the state and it has been made possible because the people were angry with the BJP," Sahu said.
Congress:
Trends in the Hindi heartland state show Congress ahead with a comfortable lead. Current trends are:
67
BJP:17
JCC-BSP:5
