Raipur, October 18: Congress is leaving no stone unturned to retain Chhattisgarh again in the upcoming Chhattisgarh Assembly Election 2023. The party, on Wednesday, October 18, announced its second list of 53 candidates for the 90-member Chhattisgarh Assembly. The Congress has laid down a roadmap with a mix of regional pride and welfarism. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), its rival, is targeting the Bhupesh Baghel-led government on corruption and non-fulfilment of election promises made five years ago.

The Congress party, on the other hand, has been trying to build a narrative around Chhattisgarhi sub-nationalism, making regional identity a key electoral theme for the first time since the state was formed in 2000. According to a government survey, the share of Other Backward Classes (OBC) in the State’s population is 43.5%, which forms the backdrop to the Congress’s special focus on the social group. The BJP has fielded OBC representatives in nearly two-thirds of the general seats. Scroll down to know the names of key candidates of Congress and their constituencies. Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023: From Arun Vora to Vikas Upadhyay, Congress Releases Second List of 53 Candidates; Check Candidate Names and Their Constituencies.

Key Candidates of Congress and Their Constituencies

Vikas Upadhyay

Congress has fielded sitting MLA Vikas Upadhyay from the Raipur City West for the Chhattisgarh Assembly Election 2023. Born to a farmer's family in Raipur, Vikas Upadhyay comes from a non-political background. He served on the Indian Youth Congress national committee as Secretary in 2009. Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023: From CM Bhupesh Baghel to TS Singh Deo and Girish Devangan, List of Key Candidates of Congress and Their Constituencies.

Mahant Ram Sundar Das

Mahant Ram Sundar Das has entered the fray from the Raipur City South constituency. Along with religion, Mahant Ramsundar Das also has a deep attachment to politics. He has also been an MLA from the Congress party. He is currently the Chairman of the Chhattisgarh Cow Service Commission. Ram Sundar Das is a close ally of Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel.

Arun Vora

Congress has nominated Arun Vora from the Durg City seat for the upcoming Chhattisgarh Assembly Election 2023. Being a Congress veteran, Arun Vora is the son of Motilal Vora, the chief minister of united Madhya Pradesh. Vora is a three-time MLA gearing up for the fourth term.

Jitin Jaiswal

Jitin Jaiswal will contest from Jagdalpur in the upcoming Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha Polls. He has served as a mayor before being named as the candidate. Jitin Jaiswal will be facing BJP's Kiran Dev for the prestigious battle.

Shailesh Pandey

Shailesh Pandey will be trying to retain his Bilaspur assembly constituency seat this year. Before entering politics, Shailesh Pandey was a dean of the CV Raman University. He fought the 2018 Chhattisgarh Assembly Election from Bilaspur and won with a huge margin.

Elections to the 90-member Chhattisgarh Assembly will take place in two phases on November 7 and 17. The counting of votes will take place on December 3, along with that of four other poll-going states. The Congress is seeking to repeat its government in Chhattisgarh under Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 18, 2023 08:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).