Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], October 22 (ANI): After scrutiny of nomination papers on Saturday in 20 assembly constituencies of the first phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023, the nominations of a total of 253 candidates have been found valid. It is noteworthy that till October 20, the last day of nomination in the first phase, a total of 294 candidates had filed nominations.
In the first phase of the assembly election, 14 in Antagarh constituency, 15 in Bhanupratappur, 10 in Kanker, 10 in Keshkal, 10 in Kondagaon, 9 in Narayanpur, 8 in Bastar, 13 in Jagdalpur, 7 in Chitrakote, 7 in Dantewada, 7 in Bijapur, and 9 in Konta were found valid. Similarly, nominations of 11 candidates in Khairagarh, 13 in Dongargarh, 35 in Rajnandgaon, 15 in Dongargaon, 10 in Khujji, 10 in Mohla-Manpur, 21 in Kawardha, and 16 in Pandariya have been found valid.
The last date for the withdrawal of nominations for the first phase of assembly constituencies under Assembly Elections 2023 is October 23.
The Election Commission has announced that the first phase of polling for 20 seats in Chhattisgarh will be held on November 7, with the remaining 70 seats in Chhattisgarh going to polls on November 17. The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with the announcement of poll dates. These elections are crucial as they are taking place months before the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April-May next year. The counting of votes will take place on December 3 in all the states.
Earlier, in the 2018 assembly polls, the Congress witnessed a landslide victory, winning 68 seats out of 90 of those against the then-ruling BJP, which acquired 15 seats. The BJP aims to wrest power from the Congress-ruled state, which is expected to set the tone for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls. (ANI)
