Chhattisgarh election results 2018: Raman Singh resigns as CM

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CHHATTISGARH: The Election Commission of India is declaring the Chhattisgarh election results today, which the exit polls have predicted as a close call between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Counting of votes that began at 8am in the 90 assembly constituencies will decide the fate of 1269 candidates, including that of BJP CM Raman Singh.

Track live updates on assembly election results here.

Around 76.35% turnout was recorded in the two phase polls held on November 12 and 20. It was a little less than the previous 2013 polls when 77.40% of voters had exercised their franchise.

In the last Chhattisgarh elections, the BJP had won 49, the Congress 39, while one seat each was bagged by the BSP and an Independent. The two leading parties bagged a close vote share of 41% (BJP) and 40.3% (Congress).

This time, it is a high stake election not just for the national parties – BJP and Congress but also for regional forces. These assembly elections are also the last before the 2019 general elections.

This time, among all political stakeholders, the outcome is most significant for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP. Tuesday’s result could give a peek into whether the electoral momentum is in the favour or against BJP ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Democracy has won: Congress

Democracy has won. Thank you India, you have chosen love over hate, peace over violence & truth over lies: Congress on results.

All leads in: Congress ahead in 66 seats, BJP in 17

The Congress is leading in 66 seats and the BJP is in 17 seats, according to Election Commission trends.

People have given us a responsibility: PL Punia

“We humbly accept the mandate by the people. They have not given us the right, they have given us a responsibility. They believed the promises we made in our manifesto. People trusted the words of Rahul Gandhi ji&gave us an agenda, we accept it,” ANI quotes Congress general secretary in Chhattisgarh PL Punia as saying.

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PL Punia, Congress in Chhattisgarh: We humbly accept the mandate by the people. They have not given us the right, they have given us a responsibility. They believed the promises we made in our manifesto. People trusted the words of Rahul Gandhi ji&gave us an agenda, we accept it.

Raman Singh resigns as CM

“I have tendered my resignation to the governor,” ANI quotes outgoing Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh as saying. “We respect the mandate that the public has given. I congratulate Congress on this success. I consider it my luck to serve the public of Chhattisgarh for the last 15 years… I take the responsibility for this defeat because the poll was contested under my leadership. We will act as a strong Opposition and work for the development of the state.”

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Outgoing Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh: I have tendered my resignation to the Governor. #AssemblyElectionResults2018

Congress makes inroads in central Chhattisgarh

With a lead in 58 seats in the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly, the Congress has made maximum gains in central part of the state, according to the latest trends. There are 67 seats in central Chhattisgarh, of which Congress is leading in 42 seats, a gain of 28 seats compared to the 2013 polls. The BJP is leading in 17 seats in the state, including 12 in that region, a gain of five seats compared to the 2013 polls, PTI reported.

Were not expecting such a big blessing from people: Chhattisgarh Congress chief

With the Congress poised to wrest power from the BJP in Chhattisgarh after 15 years, the party’s state unit chief Bhupesh Baghel today credited strong party organisation for the impressive showing and said he was not expecting such a big margin of victory. “We were not expecting such a big blessing from the people. We were expecting around 60 seats,” Baghel told PTI. The Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee chief, who is seen as one of the contenders for the chief minister’s post along with T S Singhdeo, said it was for the high command to decide who would be chief minister.

Congress MLAs of Chhattisgarh to meet in Raipur tomorrow

Newly elected Congress MLAs of Chhattisgarh will meet in Raipur tomorrow, Hindustan Times reports.

Congress ahead in 62 seats, BJP in 13

The Congress is leading in 62 seats and the BJP is in 13 seats, according to Election Commission trends

Farmer discontent, fatigue led to BJP debacle in Chhattisgarh

Rural distress, farm discontent, and “arrogance of power” are being cited as reasons for the BJP’s impending debacle in Chhattisgarh where the votes are still being counted but the Congress looks set for a landslide win. Farmers, farm activists, and BJP functionaries say the party “heavily” underestimated rural distress and also the discontent among the urban voters, especially the small traders, over demonetisation and implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST), reports Abhiram Ghadyalpatil.

Congress leading in 67 seats, BJP in 15

The Congress is leading in 67 seats and the BJP is leading in 15 seats, according to the latest trends.

Congress ahead in 65 seats, BJP in 18

The Congress is leading in 65 seats and BJP in 18 seats, according to the latest videos. The BSP is leading in six seats and others in one.

Congress ahead in 63 seats, BJP in 21

The Congress is leading in 63 seats and BJP in 21 seats, according to the latest trends. The BSP is leading in five seats and others in one. Raman Singh is eyeing a fourth consecutive term as chief minister even as the Congress is hoping to return to power in the state after 15 years

Congress ahead in 60 seats, BJP in 22

The Congress is ahead in 60 seats and BJP in 22 seats, according to the latest trends. The BSP is leading in seven seats and others in one.

Congress leading in 61 seats, BJP in 20

The Congress is currently leading in 61 seats and BJP in 20, according to latest trends. The BSP is leading in eight seats.

Raman Singh leads, five ministers trail

Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh is leading by 1,200 votes over Congress nominee and former prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s niece Karuna Shukla in the Rajnandgaon Assembly seat, according to the latest poll trends, PTI reported.

Five ministers in Raman Singh’s cabinet trailing

Among them, state minister Rajesh Munat was behind Congress’ Vikas Upadhyay in Raipur City West Assembly seat, Amar Agarwal was trailing behind Shailesh Pande of the Congress in Bilaspur segment, while Brij Mohan Agarwal was behind Congress’ Kanhaiyya Agrawal in Raipur city south segment.

Congress leading in 59 seats, BJP in 22

The Congress is leading in 59 seats, whereas the BJP is leading in 22, according to latest trends. The BSP is leading in nine seats and others in one.

Raman Singh leads in Rajnandgaon

Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh is leading by a margin of 1,200 votes in the Rajnandgaon assembly constituency, PTI quoted election officials as saying. Singh is pitted against Karuna Shukla (Congress), niece of former prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Happy that BJP is losing in Chhattisgarh: Ajit Jogi

Former chief minister Ajit Jogi said on Tuesday that he was “happy” with the “results”. The Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J) president told reporters that the people of the state wanted to oust the Raman Singh-led government, which has been in office for 15 years. Ajit Jogi, who was in the Congress before he floated his own party, said the assembly results would help his party emerge as a third front in the state. “I am happy with the results as the BJP is losing,” he said.

Congress leading in 63 seats, BJP in 18

The Congress is leading in 63 seats, while the BJP is ahead in 18 seats. Chhattisgarh was the only state where voting was held in two phases — the first in 18 seats spread across eight districts on November 12 and then in 72 constituencies across 19 districts on November 20.

Congress ahead in 60 seats, BJP in 21

Early trends show the Congress is leading in 60 seats, whereas the BJP is leading in 21.The BSP is leading in nine seats. GGP candidate Heera Singh Markaam is leading from the Pali Tankhaar constituency.

Congress leading in 57 seats, BJP in 24

Early trends show the Congress is leading in 57 seats and BJP in 24. The BSP is leading in eight seats, whereas others in one. BJP is seeking a fourth straight term in office under the leadership of Chief Minister Raman Singh, while the Congress is aiming to stage a comeback after being in the opposition for 15 years. The state had recorded 76.60% voter turnout.

Congress ahead in 56 seats, BJP in 23

The Congress is currently leading in 56 seats, whereas the BJP is leading in 23 seats. The BSP is leading in nine seats and others in two seats.

Congress ahead in 54 seats, BJP in 25

According to early trends, Congress leading in 54 seats, while the BJP is ahead in 25 seats. The BSP is leading in nine seats and others in two. Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), former chief minister Ajit Jogi’s Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) and Communist Party of India (CPI) have joined hands this time to fight the BJP and the Congress. The alliance is led by Ajit Jogi

Ajit Jogi leading in Marwahi, wife Renu Jogi ahead in Kota

Ajit Jogi leading in Marwahi seat, while his wife Renu Jogi was ahead in Kota constituency, according to PTI. The Congress is leading in Ramanujganj, Samari, Ambikapur, Katghora, Pali-Tanakhar, Beltara, Saraipali, Basna, Bilaigarh, Baloda bazar, Raipur Rural, Raipur Nagar Uttar, Sanjari balod, Durg rural, Kavardha and Narayanpur seats. The BJP ahead in Vaishalinagar, Pamgarh, Bilaspur and Rampur seats. The Congress is leading in 52 seats, BJP in 26 and BSP in 10, according to early trends.

Congress ahead in 53 seats, BJP in 26

The Congress is leading in 53 seats, BJP in 26, according to early trends. The BSP is leading in nine seats, while others in one.

Congress leading in 21 seats, BJP in 5: ECI

According to official ECI trends, Congress leading in 21 seats, BJP in 5 seats and Janata Congress in 2 seats in Chhattisgarh.

Congress leading in 52 seats, BJP in 26

According to early trends, Congress is leading in 51 seats. The BJP is leading in 27, BSP in eight seats and others in one. The state assembly elections are high-stake battles for both the BJP and the Congress, and may set the tone for the 2019 general elections. The BJP is looking to counter anti-incumbency in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

Congress leading in 13 seats, BJP in 4: ECI

According to official Election Commission of India trends, Congress is leading in 13 seats, BJP in 4 seats and Janata Congress in 1 seat.

Congress leading in 55 seats, BJP in 21

Congress is leading in 55 seats and BJP in 21, according to early trends. According to official trends from the ECI, former Chhattisgarh CM Ajit Jogi is at third position at Marwahi. BJP is leading and Congress at second.

Ajit Jogi is at third position at Marwahi

According to official trends from the ECI, former Chhattisgarh CM Ajit Jogi is at third position at Marwahi. BJP is leading and Congress at second. Also, early trends show the Congress is currently leading in 50 seats, whereas the BJP is leading in 26. The BSP is leading in five seats and others in one.

Raman Singh leads from Rajnandgaon

Early trends show Raman Singh is leading from Rajnandgaon constituency. Overall, BJP is leading in 27 seats, whereas the Congress is leading in 40.

Karuna Shukla leading from Rajnandgaon, Ajit Jogi from Marwahi

Initials trends shows that Karuna Shukla is leading from Rajnandgaon seat against Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh. Janata Congress leader Ajit Jogi is leading from Marwahi constituency.

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Chattisgarh Chief Minister Dr.Raman Singh trailing from Rajnandgaon, Congress’s Karuna Shukla is leading #ChhattisgarhElections2018 

Congress leading 37 seats, BJP ahead in 18

Congress is leading in 37 seats, BJP is ahead in 18 in Chhattisgarh assembly polls, according to early trends.

Congress leading with 22 seats in Chhattisgarh

According to early trends, Congress is leading in 22 seats in Chhattisgarh. BJP which is leading in eight seats. The BSP is leading in four seats.

Congress leading in 10 seats, BJP in 10, BSP in four

Congress leading in 10 seats, BJP leading in 10 and BSP in four, according to early trends. Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), former chief minister Ajit Jogi’s Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) and Communist Party of India (CPI) have joined hands this time to fight the BJP and the Congress. The alliance is led by Ajit Jogi

BJP ahead in three seats, Congress in two

BJP is currently ahead in three seats, Congress is in two. “Counting for all 90 seats started at 8 am at the 27 district headquarters. A three-layer security is in place at all counting centres,” an election official said.

BJP, Congress neck-and-neck

BJP and Congress leading in two seats each. While the BJP is seeking a fourth straight term in office, the Congress is aiming to stage a comeback after being out of power for the last 15 years. Several exit polls have predicted a close contest between the two.

■ Congress looks to return to power after 15 years

Raman Singh is eyeing a fourth consecutive term as Chhattisgarh chief minister and the Congress is looking to return to power after 15 years.

Will Raman Singh return for the fourth term?

■ Will Raman Singh secure a historic fourth term? Will the Congress wrest power from the BJP after 15 years, or will former Congress chief minister Ajit Jogi emerge kingmaker?

Key candidates and battles

Chief minister and BJP’s Raman Singh, who is seeking a fourth term in office, senior Congress leaders and former chief minister Ajit Jogi are among the prominent ones. The chief minister is locked in a fight for the Rajnandgaon seat with Congress’ Karuna Shukla, the niece of former prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), former chief minister Ajit Jogi’s Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) and Communist Party of India (CPI) have joined hands this time to fight the BJP and the Congress. The alliance is led by Ajit Jogi.

Ajit Jogi is said to have an influence among the Satnami community and scheduled castes, who are spread in 58 seats of the 72 seats in the plains. The remaining 14 seats fall in the Sarguja-Jaspur region of north Chhattisgarh, where the Congress and the BJP are locked in direct and close contest.