The fate of 223 candidates was sealed in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in 20 legislative Assembly constituencies of State during the first phase of Assembly polls on Tuesday. There was a significant turnout as voters across State came out to exercise their democratic right at 5,304 polling stations in 20 legislative assembly constituencies. Polling began at Pandariya, Kawardha, Khairagarh, Dongargarh, Rajnandgaon, Dongargaon, Khujji, Bastar, Jagdalpur and Chitrakot assembly constituencies at 8 am while the polling at Mohla-Manpur, Antagarh, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Keshkal, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur and Konta legislative assembly constituencies began at 7 am. The fate of prominent candidates including former Chief Minister and Rajnandgaon BJP candidate Dr Raman Singh, Forest Minister and Congress candidate from Kawardha Mohammad Akbar, Sukma Congress candidate and Industry Minister Kawasi Lakhma, Kondagaon Congress candidate and Cabinet Minister Mohan Markam, State Mineral Development Corporation Chairman and Congress candidate from Rajnandgaon Girish Dewangan, State Congress President and Chitrakot Congress candidate Deepak Baij, BJP candidate from Kawardha Vijay Sharma, BJP candidate from Kondgaon Lata Usendi, BJP candidate from Narayanpur and former Minister Kedar Kashyap, former Minister and BJP candidate from Bijapur Mahesh Gagda, Keshkal BJP candidate Neelkanth Tekam and other candidates were sealed in the EVMs.

 

The electoral battleground was predominantly between BJP and Congress candidates, with rebels and independents occasionally impacting the outcomes. However, the significance of this election extended beyond party lines due to the presence of many Maoist-affected areas, adding complexity to the electoral process. A total of 223 candidates were in the fray in 20 legislative assembly. Among them, the Rajnandgaon assembly seat stood out with the highest number of 29 candidates. In contrast, the Chitrakot and Dantewada seats have the fewest contenders, with just 7 candidates vying for victory. Other assembly seats included Pandaria with 14 candidates, Kawardha with 16 candidates, Khairagarh with 11 candidates, Dongargarh (SC) with 10 candidates, Dongargaon with 12 candidates, Khujji with 10 candidates, Mohla-Manpur (ST) with 9 candidates, Antagarh (ST) with 13 candidates, Bhanupratappur (ST) with 14 candidates, Kanker (ST) with 9 candidates, Keshkal (ST) with 10 candidates, Kondagaon (ST) with 8 candidates, Narayanpur (ST) with 9 candidates, Bastar (ST) with 8 candidates, Jagdalpur with 11 candidates, and Chitrakot and Dantewada with 7 candidates each. Similarly, Bijapur and Konta seats each had 8 candidates. This first phase of assembly polls sets the stage for a decisive political journey, with voters and candidates eagerly awaiting the results that will shape the state’s political future.