Chhattisgarh Assembly polls LIVE: BJP trying to win sitting Congress MLA

The Bharatiya Janata Party is trying to include Congress MLA Chintamani Maharaj in the party

Ahead of the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is trying to include Congress MLA Chintamani Maharaj in the BJP party. The former Congress legislator is upset as the party has not granted him a ticket in the upcoming Assembly elections. Maharaj hails from the Samri constituency in the Balrampur district. He belongs to the Kawar community and had previously served as a member of the BJP before joining the Congress. If he joins the BJP, the party is hopeful that the Congress MLA might consider contesting the elections from Ambikapur. While the BJP has not confirmed Maharaj's possible induction into the party, their presence at an event in the Samri constituency indicates ongoing political discussions. 

3:21 PM

Support of farmers will help win 75 seats, says CM Bhupesh Baghel

Ahead of the upcoming Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said that his government implemented several schemes for the welfare and support of farmers, and this will help the Congress win 75-plus seats in the 90-member House. The CM called the farmers a decisive factor in the upcoming polls. He said, "The biggest factor is farmers and then women, youth and businessmen. We have put money into the pockets of farmers and youth through various schemes. When money reaches the market, businessmen become happy." He added that several schemes, such as the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana, Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Bhoomihin Krishi Majdoor Nyay Yojana and Godhan Nyay Yojana have transformed people's lives.

12:36 PM

Congress makes four key announcements if it retains power in elections

Ahead of the upcoming Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel promised to waive off farmers' loans if the Congress party retains power in the state. The state government had stated that they fulfilled the 2018 promise of waiving agricultural loans, relieving 1.88 million farmers in the state from loans totalling Rs 9,270 crore. The Congress made four key announcements, which include conducting a caste census, procuring 20 quintals of paddy per acre, providing houses to 17,50,000 people, and announcing a farm loan waiver.

12:10 PM

Deadline for withdrawal of nomination ends, 223 candidates in fray for first phase of 20 seats

A total of 223 candidates are in the fray for the first phase of the upcoming Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, comprising 20 seats, after the deadline for withdrawal of nomination papers ended on October 23. The candidates include state Congress chief Deepak Baij and former chief minister and Bharatiya Janata Party vice president Raman Singh. Polls to these 20 seats in seven Naxalite-affected districts in Bastar division and four other districts will take place on November 7. 

 

11:19 AM

Two Congress MLAs switch to Gondwana Gantantra party, BJP

Ahead of the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, Vijay Jaiswal, who represents Manendragarh constituency, has announced his intention to join Gondwana Gantantra party (GGP), which is in alliance with Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Another Congress politician, Chintamani Maharaj, is a two-time MLA from Samri (ST) constituency, has announced his willingness to return to the BJP after the Congress did not give him a ticket for the upcoming polls.