All you need to know about Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023

The countdown for the upcoming Assembly elections in five states has begun. The campaign for the Assembly elections in Mizoram and Chhattisgarh has come to an end on Sunday. Polling teams reached all the polling stations in Chhattisgarh under three-layered security cover as it will go under polls in two phases. 

The polling for 20 seats of the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly of the first phase will be held on November 7, 2023 and the remaining 70 seats will see the polling on November 17, 2023. 

The first phase is scheduled to take place on November 7, 2023 from 7 AM to 5 PM. The results of the votes will be out on December 3, 2023. 

Around 60,000 security personnel, 40,000 of them belonging to the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and 20,000 from the State police, have been deployed for the smooth conduct of polls in Bastar division which has 12 Assembly segments. Members of the elite anti-Naxal unit CoBRA and women commandos will also be a part of the security apparatus, according to an official statement.

Key Contenders

Indian National Congress: Bhupesh Baghel
Bharatiya Janata Party: Narayan Chandel
Janta Congress Chhattisgarh: Amit Jogi
Bahujan Samaj Party+Gondwana Ganatantra Party: Hemant Poyam & Tuleshwar Singh Markam
Aam Aadmi Party: Komal Hupendi
Communist Party of India: Manish Kunjam
Communist Party of India (Marxist): Sanjay Parate 

Key Issues for the upcoming Assembly Elections in Chhattisgarh

Development: The BJP has highlighted its record on development, including the construction of roads, bridges, and irrigation projects. The INC has alleged that the BJP government has neglected the welfare of the poor and tribals.

Corruption: The INC has accused the BJP government of corruption. However, the BJP has denied the allegations.

Unemployment: Unemployment is a major issue in Chhattisgarh. The BJP has promised to create new jobs, while the INC has promised to provide unemployment allowance.

Key Constituencies

Dantewada: This Naxalite-affected constituency is a stronghold of the BJP.
Raipur: This urban constituency is seen as a bellwether for the entire state.
Surguja: This tribal-dominated constituency is a key battleground between the BJP and the INC.

Phase 1 of Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections

According to the Chief Electoral Officer, Chhattisgarh, a total of 223 candidates in the 20 assembly constituencies of the first phase, of which 198 are men and 25 are women, will contest the polls on Tuesday.
The Chief Electoral Officer said that a total of 5,304 polling stations have been set up to ensure smooth functioning of the votes.

Chhattisgarh has a total of 64,523 polling stations in the election. As per the Election Commission 5,61,36,229 Voters are eligible to cast their vote. Of these there are 2,63,829 first time voters in the age group 18-19.

Voter Turnout

According to the sources, Voter turnout in Chhattisgarh has been traditionally high. In the 2018 Assembly elections, 76.3% was recorded as a voter turnout.

Opinion Polls

Opinion polls have predicted a close contest between the BJP and the INC. Some polls have given the BJP a slight edge, while others have given the INC a slight edge.

Assembly Elections 2023: Congress trends ahead in Chhattisgarh in India Daily Opinion Poll https://t.co/8oc8nPcQbx#News #Topindiannews #Elections2024 #AssemblyElection2023 #Congress #Chattisgarh pic.twitter.com/KVtfMykgBE

— Top Indian News (@topindiannews_) November 4, 2023

Exit Polls

According to the sources, the exit polls will be released after the polls close. Exit polls are surveys of voters conducted after they have cast their votes. Exit polls can be a good indicator of the likely outcome of the election.

Implications of the Election

The outcome of the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections will have important implications for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. A victory for the BJP would boost the party's morale and give it a momentum going into the Lok Sabha elections. Whereas, a victory for the INC would give the party a much-needed boost and revive its hopes of a comeback in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Conclusion

The Chhattisgarh Assembly elections 2023 are shaping up to be a close contest between the BJP and the INC. The outcome of the election will have important implications for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.