Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat has criticised political parties for not maintaining dignity during the just concluded polls. Bhagwat also said that the opposition should not be considered as an adversary in a democracy and their views should also come to light. “It is called Opposition. It should not be considered an adversary. Their opinions should also come to light,” he said while addressing the closing ceremony RSS worker’s development class in Maharashtra’s Nagpur.
Tag: Elections
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Lok Sabha Elections 2024: 61.41 pc voter turnout recorded till 5 pm in Jharkhand
A voter turnout of 61.41 per cent was recorded till the end of polling in the four Lok Sabha constituencies in Jharkhand at 5 pm on Saturday, officials said. Voting, which commenced in Giridih, Dhanbad, Ranchi and Jamshedpur constituencies at 7am as part of the third phase of elections in the eastern state and sixth round nationwide, was peaceful.
Giridih registered the highest polling at 64.75 per cent, followed by Jamshedpur (64.30 per cent), Dhanbad (58.90 per cent) and Ranchi (58.73 per cent).
“Today, I exercised my right to vote at Shri Krishna Institute of Public Administration, Ranchi. I urge all voters to exercise their right to vote. Ensure your participation in this great festival of democracy,” Governor C P Radhakrishnan said in a post on X. Former India cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni cast his vote at a booth in JVM Shyamli School in Ranchi. Dhoni was accompanied by his wife Sakshi, father Pan Singh and mother Devaki Devi. AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther StatesKalpana Soren, wife of jailed former Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, posted on X, “Today, I exercised my right to vote by participating in this great festival of elections for the massive victory of justice over injustice. An appeal to all of you is to reach your polling booth in large numbers and exercise your right to vote to protect democracy and the Constitution. If Hemant is there, then there is courage! Jharkhand will not bow down! INDIA will not stop!” Tata Steel Managing Director T V Narendran exercised his franchise with wife at a booth in Jamshedpur. Odisha Governor and former Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das also cast his vote in the steel city and said this election will take the country to newer heights. Twenty-seven candidates are in the fray from Ranchi, 25 each from Dhanbad and Jamshedpur, and 16 from Giridih.
Around 82.16 lakh voters are eligible to cast their votes in these four constituencies, with Dhanbad having the highest number of electors at 22.85 lakh, and Giridih having the lowest at 18.64 lakh.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) K Ravi Kumar said all 8,963 booths were being closely monitored. Of these, 186 are being managed by women and 22 by the youth. Additionally, there are 15 unique booths, showcasing the specialties of the respective areas.
About 36,000 poll personnel have been deployed in this phase, Kumar said.
In the Ranchi Lok Sabha seat, Congress’ Yashaswini Sahay, daughter of former Union minister Subodh Kant Sahay, is contesting against BJP MP Sanjay Seth.
Dhanbad is witnessing a fight between BJP’s Baghmara MLA Dulu Mahato and Congress’ Anupama Singh, wife of the party’s Bermo legislator Kumar Jaimangal.
In Jamshedpur, BJP MP Bidyut Baran Mahato is pitted against JMM’s Baharagora MLA Samir Mohanty.
In Giridih, AJSU Party’s Chandra Prakash Chaudhary is up against JMM’s Tundi MLA Mathura Mahato. A student leader, Jairam Mahato, has added a twist to the contest by challenging candidates of both the INDIA bloc and the NDA.
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Sat phones, special runners and more… all in place for polls in Anantnag-Rajouri
Anantnag/Rajouri (JK): With the threat of cross-border shelling in some border areas and satellite phones and special runners in place to deal with contingencies, all is in readiness for elections in the controversially redrawn Anantnag-Rajouri constituency from where PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti is contesting. Contesting against Mehbooba Mufti, working to revive her party’s fortunes following its alliance with the BJP in 2015, in the keenly watched election on Saturday are National Conference’s Mian Altaf and 18 others.
Elections in the last of the five seats in Jammu and Kashmir take place against the backdrop of four terror incidents, including one that claimed the life of an Indian Air Force soldier and a former BJP sarpanch.
Nothing is being left to chance, said officials. Multi-layer security arrangements have been put in place in the constituency spread across 18 assembly segments in Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian in south Kashmir and Rajouri and Poonch districts south of Pir Panjal to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling. The Election Commission has set up 2,338 polling stations in the parliamentary constituency, which has more than 18.36 lakh voters. Four election staff, including the presiding officer, will be stationed in every polling booth. In all, more than 9,000 polling staffers, including reserves, are being deployed and have left for their stations. AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther States With 19 border polling stations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri and Poonch, a contingency plan has been worked out to deal with cross-border shelling though chances are negligible given the ongoing ceasefire between India and Pakistan that came into effect in February 2021, officials said. Some polling stations fall in communication-shadow areas and alternative arrangements have been put in place in such areas with satellite phones, wireless sets and special runners being provided in case of a crisis. The parliamentary seat was redrawn, sparking controversy due to the geographical divide imposed by the Pir Panjal ranges. Criticism was levied against the delimitation process with Ghulam Nabi Azad of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party among others voicing concern over the methodology employed and suggesting a lack of consideration for geographical coherence. In 2019, the Anantnag constituency had a turnout of just 9.8 per cent. And so perhaps, in a marked contrast to the fervent campaigning witnessed in other constituencies, the area has seen relatively subdued rallies.
However, the Poonch and Rajouri regions, known for high voter turnouts, have seen hectic campaigning with all parties getting their top leaders to campaign.
Political heavyweights such as National Conference’s Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti and her daughter Iltija Mufti, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party’s Altaf Bukhari and Azad have spent considerable time in engaging with voters.
Originally slated for May 7, the Election Commission postponed polling in Anantnag-Rajouri citing adverse weather conditions. The decision to defer voting by 18 days drew the ire of regional political factions which alleged favouritism towards the BJP-backed Apni Party candidate Zafar Manhas.
Azad, who was initially slated to contest under the DPAP banner, has fielded Mohammad Saleem Parray, prompting speculation of strategic candidate placements possibly influenced by the BJP to fracture opposition votes.
This Lok Sabha election, the first since Article 370 was abrogated in 2019 and the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was divided into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, is crucial for Mehbooba Mufti.
She is grappling with internal party dissension with several former PDP members now contesting against the party. The most prominent among them perhaps is Manhas, who was earlier affiliated with the PDP.
Amid the political manoeuvring, National Conference’s Omar Abdullah hinted at BJP support for Mehbooba Mufti in certain local pockets, a claim she chose not to address publicly.
The unfolding developments in Anantnag-Rajouri portend a riveting electoral showdown with far-reaching implications for the region’s political landscape.
With record-high polling in Srinagar and Baramulla, political observers feel the south Kashmir constituency will also register a higher than expected voter turnout.
The aggregate turnout in the four Lok Sabha seats, including Udhampur and Jammu, which have already gone to polls was around 59 per cent.
Authorities had received more than 2,200 applications from the contesting candidates and political parties, seeking permission for various electioneering activities.
While 1,920 applications for rallies, roadshows and meetings were approved, 303 pleas were rejected on various grounds.
The 18.36 lakh voters are enrolled in the five districts of Kulgam, Anantnag, Poonch, Shopian and Rajouri of the parliamentary constituency include 9.33 lakh men, 9.02 women and 27 third-gender voters.
Around 18,000 differently-abled people and 540 people aged above 100 years are eligible to cast their ballots.
Polling will be held from 7 am to 6 pm. Before that, there will be a mock poll in the presence of polling agents. Voting will continue after 6 pm if voters are found standing in queues outside polling booths.
Seventeen polling booths (‘pink’ polling stations) will be managed by women, 15 by differently-abled people and eight by youngsters. Also, there will be 15 ‘green’ polling stations to spread the message about environment awareness.
All the polling stations in Anantnag-Rajouri will have CCTV cameras for live webcasting to the control rooms set up at the district and CEO office. The cameras will be positioned in such a way so that they do not violate the secrecy of vote.
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“We are also saying we should get back PoK but…”: Asaduddin Owaisi attacks BJP
Amid a debate on Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen chief Asaduddin Owaisi asked the BJP on Wednesday what they have done in the last 10 years to get back PoK?
Owaisi also mentioned that he also wants that PoJK should be included in India but this issue only comes forward during the elections.
“Now they (BJP) are not saying ‘400 paar’. The real issue is that the prices of petrol have crossed Rs 100 and the incidents of paper leaks are taking place in Varanasi, from where PM Modi is a candidate. They talk about Pok, but what have they done in the last 10 years to get it? We are also saying that PoK is a part of India and we should get it back but the issue of PoK only comes forward during elections,” he said.”All the promises that they made in the last 10 years turned out to be false,” Owaisi added.AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther StatesNotably, the Bharatiya Janata Party have racked up the PoK issue in their campaign across the country. Several BJP leaders are highlighting that the territory belongs to India only.The Home Minister Amit Shah in a rally on May 20 in Delhi emphasized that Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir will remain India’s forever.”The leader of the INDI Alliance says do not talk about POK; respect Pakistan because it has atom bomb. Rahul Baba, we are the people of the BJP; we are not afraid of atom bombs. PoK belongs to India, will remain so and we will take it,” Shah said.Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Sunday said that the vision of securing over 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections needs to be realised to integrate Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) into India.
“The vision of ‘Abki Baar, 400 Paar’ needs to be realised to make PoK a part of India,” UP CM said.
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LS polls: Farmers of Lakhimpur Kheri await justice
Amid the rising political heat, people in Tikunia area of Lakhimpur Kheri still remember the unforgettable incident that shook the country three years ago.
Eight people including a journalist and four farmers were killed when violence broke out after an SUV ran over a group of protesting farmers in October of 2021.
“I pass by this place everyday. We have tried a lot to forget what happened here but every time we approach this place, the images of that day flash before our eyes,” said Manjeet Singh, a resident of Tikunia pointing towards the ground where the farmers held the protest against the three controversial farm laws, which have been scrapped now. This ground lies on one side of the narrow road leading towards Tikunia, a small town located on the northern most corner of Lakhimpur Kheri district, over 215 km away from state capital Lucknow. AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther States”The ground is a constant reminder of how nothing happens to a person with political influence,” said Satwant Singh, another Tikunia resident who participated in the protest and was a witness to the incidents. Ashish Mishra ‘Monu’, the son of Union minister Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’, was made an accused in the case. Ashish Mishra was arrested after the incidents but is currently out on bail. “Ajay Mishra ‘Teni’ was awarded by the BJP for the incident. The party did nothing to him and has now given him a ticket for the Lok Sabha polls,” said Rajdeep Singh, another resident who was injured in the incident. The BJP has renominated Ajay Mishra from the Lakhimpur Kheri seat. The Samajwadi Party (SP) has fielded Utkarsh Verma and the BSP Anshay Kalra. Voting will be held on May 13.
The 2021 incident occurred in Tikunia but almost all the victims were from different places in the district.
Mandeep Singh, the son of an elderly farmer Nacchatar Singh who was killed after being run over by the SUV, said, “We were shown how important we are in the incident. Nobody from the government has till date asked about us. We want this to change, we want to see the accused behind bars.”
Singh declined to comment on the ongoing elections but said he wants to see a change. “Like every other farmer and local we want to see a change.”
Surendra Singh, a relative of another victim Lovepreet Singh and also a member of farmers union, said, “This was an attack on farmers who produce grains to feed the entire country. We will continue to fight for justice.”
The Bhartiya Kisan Union (Tikait) unit in Lakhimpur Kheri had objected to the candidature of Ajay Mishra.
“This is nothing but disrespect to those killed in Tikunia and all farmers. The farmers will respond to this by their votes,” said Surinder Singh Virk, an office bearer of the farmers union.
Though farmers, especially from the Sikh community in Tikunia and nearby areas, express anger over the incident, the same emotion is not reflected by people of other communities, particularly outside Tikunia.
“What happened in Tikunia was wrong, nobody will support such an act but we need to come together and move ahead for development of Lakhimpur,” said Prabhat Singh, a former village head in Palia area of the district.
SP president Akhilesh Yadav has talked about the episode in his public meeting held here but his party candidate Utkarsh Verma has made only passing reference in his public meetings.
BSP’s Kalra, who himself comes from the Sikh community, has raised the issue in his public meetings in Palia and Nighasan area.
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Varanasi: PM Modi to hold road show in Varanasi on May 13 before filing nomination
Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be filing his nomination papers from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat on May 14 and before filling his nomination papers, he will hold a road show in his parliamentary constituency on May 13.
Before starting the roadshow, PM Modi will first pay tribute to the Madan Mohan Malviya statue at the main gate of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) in Lanka.
The roadshow will go until Kashi Vishwanath Corridor.The high-voltage roadshow is likely to see the participation of lakhs of workers from the party.AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther StatesMeanwhile, preparations are underway for the PM’s roadshow. In the Lok Sabha management committee meeting held in Varanasi, regional president Dilip Patel said that PM Modi’s roadshow will start by garlanding the Malviya statue in Lanka.”It will go to the Vishwanath Corridor via Assi, Sonarpura, Jangam Bari, Godaulia, and Bansphatak,” he added.PM Modi will be given a grand welcome during this. Responsibilities are being assigned to the workers to make the road show historic.Meetings of all the assembly constituencies in the Varanasi parliamentary constituency have been organised for tomorrow. After this, meetings will be held with workers in all 21 divisions in one day. The organisation is busy preparing with the target of participation of lakhs of workers in this roadshow.
Varanasi is the stronghold of the Prime Minister. He won the seat twice – the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Congress has pitted Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai against PM Modi in Varanasi. This is the third time Ajay Rai will face PM Modi in a Lok Sabha contest
In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi won the seat with over 674,664 votes and commanded a vote share of 63.6 per cent.
Earlier in 2014, PM Modi fought on two Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat’s Vadodara and the second was Uttar Pradesh’s Varanasi.
The Varanasi seat comprises five Assembly segments including Rohaniya, Varanasi North, Varanasi South, Varanasi Cantt, and Sevapuri.
The voting for the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency will be held in the seventh phase of the elections on June 1. The counting of the votes will be held on June 4.
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Political parties from 10 countries visiting India on BJP’s invite to experience polls
New Delhi: Representatives of 18 political parties from 10 countries will interact with a host of BJP leaders, including party president J P Nadda and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during their visit to India on the ruling party’s invitation to get a first-hand experience of the Lok Sabha polls. The BJP said the foreign leaders will also be given insights into the party’s election campaign and will be briefed about its strategies and the overall electoral process. They will meet Nadda on Wednesday and also interact with Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Australia’s Liberal Party, Vietnam’s Communist Party of Vietnam, Bangladesh’s Awami League, Israel’s Likud Party, Uganda’s National Resistance Movement, Tanzania’s Chama Cha Mapinduzi, and Russia’s United Russia Party are among the political parties whose representatives are visiting India. Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna and United National Party from Sri Lanka, Militant Socialist Movement, Mauritius Labour Party, Mauritian Militant Movement and Parti Mauricien Social Democrate from Mauritius, and Nepali Congress, Janamat Party, Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and Rashtriya Swatantra Party from Nepal are among other parties visiting on the BJP’s invitation. AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther StatesBJP’s foreign affairs department in-charge Vijay Chauthaiwale said the visit is part of the party’s global outreach programme ‘Know BJP’, which was launched by Nadda on its 43rd foundation day last year.
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Cong President Mallikarjun Kharge’s emotional appeal in Kalaburagi: At least come to my funeral… – The Economic Times Video
The Congress president, Mallikarjun Kharge, has appealed to the people of his home district of Kalaburagi. He requested them to attend his funeral if they believed he worked for them, even if they didn’t wish to vote for the party candidate in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Kharge, who won the Lok Sabha elections in 2009 and 2014 but lost in 2019, has stated that he will remain a part of politics until his last breath to fight against the BJP and RSS ideologies.
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“World’s biggest party caught stealing votes”, Kejriwal led AAP protests against BJP
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal, along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and other party leaders, protested in Delhi against the BJP over the Chandigarh mayoral elections.”BJP messes up in elections; there were often allegations that BJP wins elections by messing up; BJP steals election votes, tampers with EVMs, gets names removed from the voter list, and adds fake names, we heard. We used to hear that fake votes were cast, but never found any proof. There is a verse written in the Gita, Yada Yada hi Dharmasya Glanirbhavati Bharata: whenever too much sin is committed on this earth, then the God above will come to the earth. This election in Chandigarh shows that they are the pot of sin. How did it get filled? When the pot of sin gets filled too much, then nature moves its broom, God moves its broom, and corrects things. The Chandigarh election was a small one. The world’s biggest party was caught stealing votes in the Chandigarh elections; it was caught red-handed.” said CM Kejriwal at Delhi while addressing the protest.”We have not come here to seek power. Elections keep coming. Parties keep on coming and going. Leaders keep on coming. Leaders keep on coming. Today the BJP is ruling; tomorrow someone else will be. There should not be any playing with our democracy; those who have started playing with the elections, those who are playing with the democracy, were caught on camera,” the CM added.Speaking about the potential misuse of election machinery on a large scale in the Lok Sabha election, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “If they can create such a big mess in a small election like Chandigarh, then it is obvious that they can create such a big mess in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, whether it is so or not, no matter how they come in front of the country. This is a wrong thing, so friends, we strongly condemn it and today, from this platform, I want to warn the people of the country that when you come after casting your vote, you think that you voted for a particular party, but after that, your vote gets counted. What happens is nothing; you press someone’s button inside the machine, the vote goes to someone’s account, and someone’s name is removed from the voter list, If democracy is in danger, election are meaningless.”
“We all have to come together and raise our voice against it, under any circumstances, we should not let democracy die; do not let the country be tampered with. Now we will not make any mess in a peaceful manner; we will peacefully go towards the headquarters of BJP. We will stop wherever the police stop us, we should not not have to quarrel with the police,” said CM Kejriwal.
Earlier the Delhi Chief Minister skipped the fifth summons from the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the alleged Delhi Liquor scam. Kejriwal and his party have called the summons illegal.The BJP however accused the Delhi CM of running away from the investigative agency.”Arvind Kejriwal, if there is nothing to hide…then why are you not presenting yourself before the ED and other agencies? You are the same Kejriwal who, under Anna Hazare’s tutelage, said that first there should be resignation and then investigation. Today you refuse to cooperate with investigation. You say that these are all politically motivated, as if doing ‘bhrashtachar’ is your ‘shishtachar’…How long will you play this victimhood card?…This is the ‘charitra’ of INDI alliance, that the only thing that binds them is commission and corruption, not a mission or vision” BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said.
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Congress releases third list with seven candidates for Chhattisgarh polls, drops four MLAs
By Express News Service
RAIPUR: The Congress on Sunday released its third list of candidates for the remaining seven seats for the Chhattisgarh assembly elections, renominating the party’s two sitting MLAs and denying tickets to four incumbent legislators.
With this, the ruling party has announced its candidates for all the 90 assembly constituencies in the state, which will see voting in two phases on November 7 and 17. Votes will be counted on December 3.
The party has denied tickets to 22 of 71 sitting Congress MLAs this time.
Of the seven seats, one each is reserved for the Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste categories.
The ruling party, striving for a comeback in Chhattisgarh, has not re-nominated 22 sitting legislators.
The Congress seems to have worked out caste arithmetic in its selection process with 29 candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) that the party has fielded.
According to the Congress insiders, the final decision on the selection of candidates was taken based on the people’s feedback and the party’s internal survey.
In the first list the Congress already fielded big guns, including Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, his cabinet colleagues and other senior leaders. The party declared its second list of 53 candidates last Wednesday.
Candidates belonging to the Other Backward Class (OBC) have been fielded in three of the other five general seats.
Four women candidates, including a sitting MLA, are on the Congress’ third list.
Sitting MLAs Ambica Singh Deo, the granddaughter of the erstwhile king of Koriya, and Kuldeep Juneja have been fielded from their incumbent seats Baikunthpur and Raipur North, respectively.
The candidates who have been fielded in place of four sitting legislators are Chaturi Nand (Saraipali-SC), Ambika Markam (Sihwaha), Sandeep Sahu (Kasdol) and Rashmi Chandrakar (Mahasamund).
The party has fielded Omkar Sahu from the Dhamtari seat which it could not win in the 2018 elections.
Of these five candidates, except for ex-MLA Markam, the others are new faces.
Sandeep Sahu is chairman of the Congress-governed state’s Telghani Vikas Board, while Omkar Sahu is chairman of Krishi Upaj Mandi Samiti Dhamtari.
Rashmi Chandrakar is the president of the Mahasamund district unit of Congress.
Of the 90 candidates from Congress, 33 are from ST, 29 from OBC, 10 from SC and 15 from general categories, while three are minorities.
The BJP has so far announced candidates for 86 seats.
The Congress registered a landslide victory in the 2018 polls winning 68 seats, and comfortably formed the government.
The BJP was reduced to 15 seats, while the JCC (J) and the BSP bagged 5 and 2 seats, respectively.
The current strength of the Congress is 71.
The Congress has set a target of winning 75 seats this time, according to party leaders.
(With inputs from PTI) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp
RAIPUR: The Congress on Sunday released its third list of candidates for the remaining seven seats for the Chhattisgarh assembly elections, renominating the party’s two sitting MLAs and denying tickets to four incumbent legislators.
With this, the ruling party has announced its candidates for all the 90 assembly constituencies in the state, which will see voting in two phases on November 7 and 17. Votes will be counted on December 3.
The party has denied tickets to 22 of 71 sitting Congress MLAs this time.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });
Of the seven seats, one each is reserved for the Scheduled Tribe and Scheduled Caste categories.
The ruling party, striving for a comeback in Chhattisgarh, has not re-nominated 22 sitting legislators.
The Congress seems to have worked out caste arithmetic in its selection process with 29 candidates belonging to Other Backward Classes (OBCs) that the party has fielded.
According to the Congress insiders, the final decision on the selection of candidates was taken based on the people’s feedback and the party’s internal survey.
In the first list the Congress already fielded big guns, including Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, his cabinet colleagues and other senior leaders. The party declared its second list of 53 candidates last Wednesday.
Candidates belonging to the Other Backward Class (OBC) have been fielded in three of the other five general seats.
Four women candidates, including a sitting MLA, are on the Congress’ third list.
Sitting MLAs Ambica Singh Deo, the granddaughter of the erstwhile king of Koriya, and Kuldeep Juneja have been fielded from their incumbent seats Baikunthpur and Raipur North, respectively.
The candidates who have been fielded in place of four sitting legislators are Chaturi Nand (Saraipali-SC), Ambika Markam (Sihwaha), Sandeep Sahu (Kasdol) and Rashmi Chandrakar (Mahasamund).
The party has fielded Omkar Sahu from the Dhamtari seat which it could not win in the 2018 elections.
Of these five candidates, except for ex-MLA Markam, the others are new faces.
Sandeep Sahu is chairman of the Congress-governed state’s Telghani Vikas Board, while Omkar Sahu is chairman of Krishi Upaj Mandi Samiti Dhamtari.
Rashmi Chandrakar is the president of the Mahasamund district unit of Congress.
Of the 90 candidates from Congress, 33 are from ST, 29 from OBC, 10 from SC and 15 from general categories, while three are minorities.
The BJP has so far announced candidates for 86 seats.
The Congress registered a landslide victory in the 2018 polls winning 68 seats, and comfortably formed the government.
The BJP was reduced to 15 seats, while the JCC (J) and the BSP bagged 5 and 2 seats, respectively.
The current strength of the Congress is 71.
The Congress has set a target of winning 75 seats this time, according to party leaders.
(With inputs from PTI) Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp