The Election Commission of India has unveiled the eagerly-anticipated schedule for the Lok Sabha elections in Chhattisgarh. Spread across three phases, these elections hold significance for the state’s voters in shaping its political future.
The voting in the state will commence on April 19 followed by subsequent phases on April 26 and May 7 while the results are slated to be announced on June 4.
Going by the current political landscape, the BJP leads with a formidable vote share of 46.27 per cent, surpassing the Congress at 42.23 per cent in the state. While this points to a trend favourable to the BJP, the Congress maintained strongholds in key constituencies such as Janjgir, Rajnandgaon, Raigarh, and Kanker, with Raigarh expected to witness a closely-contested electoral battle.
The Lok Sabha elections will witness a clash of political heavyweights in Chhattisgarh as both the BJP and Congress have nominated prominent candidates. Notable BJP candidates include Brijmohan Agrawal, Vijay Baghel, Saroj Pandey, Chintamani Maharaj, and Santosh Pandey while the Congress is trying to counter the saffron party with a lineup of former CM Bhupesh Baghel, Tamradhwaj Sahu, Shiv Dahariya, Jyotsna Mahant, and Vikas Upadhyay.
Drawing from the outcome of the 2023 Assembly elections, the Congress has consolidated its position in constituencies like Janjgir, Rajnandgaon, Raigarh, and Kanker. Conversely, the BJP dominates in Raipur, Durg, Rajnandgaon, Surguja, Bilaspur, Mahasamund, and Bastar, setting the stage for intense competition, particularly in Raigarh.
Going by Chhattisgarh’s electoral history, the BJP has consistently outperformed the Congress in the past three Lok Sabha elections. These results highlight the BJP’s stronghold in the state and the challenges faced by the Congress. Here’s an overview of the scenario across the 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh and the influence of the main political parties.
Despite BJP’s overall advantage, the Congress maintained strongholds in key constituencies like Janjgir, Rajnandgaon, Raigarh, and Kanker, signaling tight contests. Notably, data of the past elections reflect BJP’s electoral dominance, with victories in 2009, 2014, and 2019, though Congress made significant gains in the latter. Key insights from the assembly election results highlight BJP’s strength in constituencies like Bilaspur, Korba, Bastar, Mahasamund, Raipur, Durg, and Surguja, while Congress’s stronghold is evident in Rajnandgaon.
The voting pattern in the 2023 assembly elections shows the BJP commanding a substantial voter base of 72,349,968 against the Congress’ 66,002,586 in the state. Historically, voters in Chhattisgarh have made their choices based on the candidates and party affiliations.
As the state gears up for a fiercely contested Lok Sabha election, the contrasting paths of the BJP and the Congress underscore the fluidity of state politics. Despite the BJP’s sustained momentum and strategic positioning, the recent nominations by the Congress hint at a potential resurgence.
With both parties competing for dominance, the outcome of the elections will not only define the state’s political terrain but also hold considerable significance for the broader national political narrative.