Ishwar Sahu, a political greenhorn, resonated powerfully with voters and secured a significant win over Congressminister Ravindra Choubey by over 5,000 votes. Congress, confident in its substantial majority of 71 MLAs, was stunned by the final score. Most ministers lost, and even CM Bhupesh Baghel trailed for a few rounds on his home turf Patan. Congress wasn’t expecting defeat.A close fight, perhaps, but not a rout.
An example of how laid back Congress was is its reaction — or lack of it — to BJP’s promise of a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 to every married woman. It was a full nine days before the state leadership woke up and decided to match it following requests from party candidates and local leaders. Baghel announced an allowance of Rs 1,250 for all women, regardless of marital status or age, just four days before the elections, but party workers struggled to effectively communicate the scheme. BJP workers had by then diligently collected forms from nearly 50 lakh women.
Baghel, pushed into a three-way fight by JCC’s Amit Jogi, survived a seesaw battle and won Patan by 19,723 votes. Deputy chief minister T S Singhdeo, who had got into a public tussle with Baghel in 2021, played catch-up all day and lost to BJP’s Rajesh Agrawal by only 94 votes. Congress faced a complete rout in Surguja region, Singhdeo’s turf in north Chhattisgarh.
Even BJP workers weren’t expecting a victory until PM Modi and Shah’s arrival injected renewed vigour into the party’s campaign, galvanising the foot soldiers.
BJP took an early lead and maintained its momentum throughout the day in most constituencies. Raman Singh won a thumping victory in Rajnandgaon by 45,084 votes. BJP state president Arun Sao won Lormi by 75,070 votes.
An example of how laid back Congress was is its reaction — or lack of it — to BJP’s promise of a monthly allowance of Rs 1,000 to every married woman. It was a full nine days before the state leadership woke up and decided to match it following requests from party candidates and local leaders. Baghel announced an allowance of Rs 1,250 for all women, regardless of marital status or age, just four days before the elections, but party workers struggled to effectively communicate the scheme. BJP workers had by then diligently collected forms from nearly 50 lakh women.
Baghel, pushed into a three-way fight by JCC’s Amit Jogi, survived a seesaw battle and won Patan by 19,723 votes. Deputy chief minister T S Singhdeo, who had got into a public tussle with Baghel in 2021, played catch-up all day and lost to BJP’s Rajesh Agrawal by only 94 votes. Congress faced a complete rout in Surguja region, Singhdeo’s turf in north Chhattisgarh.
Even BJP workers weren’t expecting a victory until PM Modi and Shah’s arrival injected renewed vigour into the party’s campaign, galvanising the foot soldiers.
BJP took an early lead and maintained its momentum throughout the day in most constituencies. Raman Singh won a thumping victory in Rajnandgaon by 45,084 votes. BJP state president Arun Sao won Lormi by 75,070 votes.