Tuesday morning marked the start of polling for the first phase of the 2023 assembly elections in Mizoram and Chhattisgarh.
In Tuesday’s votes, about 50 lakh voters will decide the fate of 397 candidates.
A multifaceted struggle is underway in Chhattisgarh as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeks to overthrow the Congress, while the Mizo National Front (MNF), a constituent of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), fights to hold onto power in Mizoram.
Why is this story important?
The MNF is optimistic about holding onto power in Mizoram despite the violent problem in adjacent Manipur, which has hurt the BJP’s chances.
Despite being a component of the BJP-led NDA, the MNF and the parties do not presently have any affiliations in Mizoram.
The Zoram People’s Party (ZPM) is relying on its pledge to offer a government free from corruption.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that the Congress may be impacted by the anti-incumbency factor in Chhattisgarh.
397 candidates are vying in these important poll battles.
In both states, at least 397 individuals are running for assembly seats.
Twenty seats in Chhattisgarh are up for election in the first round, while votes for the other seventy constituencies will be cast on November 17.
The BJP and the ruling Congress are the main opponents in this battle.
All 40 assembly seats in Mizoram will be up for election on Tuesday.
Elections in Chhattisgarh will take place twice.
In Mizoram, voting started on Tuesday at 7:00 a.m. and will run till 4:00 p.m.
However, there are two polling windows in Chhattisgarh: Voting will take place in 10 seats from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm, and in the remaining constituencies from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Results of this month’s elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana, as well as the results for these two states, will be released on December 3.
In Mayawati’s BSP in Chhattisgarh, JCC could come as a surprise.
As the only major party in the 2018 elections, the Congress, is expected to lose some of its share of the vote in Chhattisgarh, even though the race will mostly be between the Congress and the BJP.
This occurs in the midst of forces opposed to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s tenure.
Recently, his name was also connected to a betting scam using the Mahadev app. Under such conditions, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) of Mayawati and the Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) might gain some seats.
Chhattisgarh: Important seats to be aware of
Several prominent members of the BJP and Congress are running in the first round of polls in Chhattisgarh, including former chief minister and BJP leader Raman Singh from Rajanandgaon and Congress state chairman Deepak Baij from Chitrakot.
While Baij is running against BJP politician Vinayak Goyal, Chhattisgarh Commerce and Industries Minister Kawasi Lakhma (Congress) is running from Konta in the Sukma district, which has been devastated by Naxalism.