Chhattisgarh changes course again
Congress lost power in Chhattisgarh in a landslide, even as the vote itself stayed close.
Chhattisgarh changes course again
What happened
The Bharatiya Janata Party returned to power in Chhattisgarh in a landslide, unseating the Indian National Congress, even though the vote itself was close.
It won 54 of the 90 seats.
That left it 8 seats clear of a majority.
It took 46.3% of the vote to the INC's 42.2%.
The campaign
In May 2013, Maoist insurgents ambushed a Congress convoy in Jhiram Ghati, Darbha valley, six months before that year's election, killing at least 27 people including state Congress president Nand Kumar Patel and former minister Mahendra Karma.1
Ajit Jogi, the state's first chief minister, was expelled from Congress in 2016 and founded the Janata Congress Chhattisgarh, which won 5 of 90 seats two years later.2
Four days before phase-one polling, the Enforcement Directorate said a cash courier arrested with over Rs 5 crore had told investigators that Mahadev betting-app promoters paid Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel around Rs 508 crore; Congress called it a conspiracy and BJP alleged hawala funding of the campaign.3
The day before phase-two polling, police seized about Rs 11.50 lakh in cash from the vehicle of BJP candidate Ram Dayal Uikey in Korba district, after he could not produce documents for the money.4
During phase-two polling, Naxalites set off an IED near a polling station in Gariaband district, killing ITBP head constable Joginder Singh as the polling party returned with the voting machines, which reached safely.5
- 1Jhiram Ghati Attack on a Congress Convoy — 2013 Naxal attack in Darbha valley — Wikipedia
- 2Ajit Jogi Forms Janata Congress Chhattisgarh After Expulsion — Janta Congress Chhattisgarh — Wikipedia
- 3ED Alleges Rs 508-Crore Payment to CM Baghel via Mahadev App — Baghel mentioned 4 times in chargesheet, Bhupesh Baghel paid Rs 508 crore by Mahadev App promoters, claims ED, Mahadev App promoters gave Rs 508 crore to CM Bhupesh Baghel
- 4Cash Seized from BJP Candidate's Vehicle Ahead of Phase 2 — Rs 11.50 Lakh Seized From BJP Candidate's Vehicle Ahead of Chhattisgarh Assembly Polls, Chhattisgarh polls: Rs 11.50 lakh cash seized from BJP candidate's vehicle in Korba
- 5Naxal IED Blast Kills ITBP Jawan During Phase-2 Polling — ITBP jawan escorting polling team killed in Naxal blast, ITBP jawan killed in IED blast carried out by Naxalites in Chhattisgarh's Gariaband
What changed
Power in Chhattisgarh changed hands, reversing the previous election's result.
The BJP grew from 15 seats to 54 this time.
Statewide, 43 of 58 seats that changed hands swung from the INC to the BJP.
Turnout, the share of registered voters who actually cast a ballot, barely moved, easing -0.1 pp to 76.7%.
Notable numbers
The tightest race anywhere was Kanker (St), Chhattisgarh, decided by 16 votes.
Raipur City South, Chhattisgarh was the most lopsided contest, won by 43.1% of the vote.
Kurud, Chhattisgarh recorded the highest turnout of any seat, at 90.6%.
Statewide, NOTA — None of the Above, a ballot option letting voters formally reject every candidate on offer — drew 1.3% of the vote.
The backdrop
The Janata Congress Chhattisgarh, the breakaway party Ajit Jogi founded after leaving Congress, won far fewer seats this time than at the previous election.2
- 2Ajit Jogi Forms Janata Congress Chhattisgarh After Expulsion — Janta Congress Chhattisgarh — Wikipedia