Chhattisgarh Elections 2023: BJP Secures Sweeping Victory, Defying Exit Polls And Upending Congress Rule

In a major upset for the Congress and Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's government in the Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged triumphant, marking its biggest-ever victory since the formation of the state in 2000.

According to the Election Commission of India, Bharatiya Janta Party gained victory on 54 seats with a clear majority mandate, while Congress lagged behind by securing 35 seats.

Chhattisgarh, which underwent polling in two phases on November 7 and November 17, witnessed the BJP defying not only exit poll projections but also clinching a resounding mandate, dashing hopes for the grand old party - the Congress.

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The unexpected results have left political pundits and leaders surprised, as most exit polls predicted a victory for the Congress. In the initial 2003 Assembly elections of the state, the BJP secured 50 seats with a 39.26% vote share. However, in the previous 2018 elections, the tables turned, and the BJP suffered a substantial defeat, managing only 15 seats with a 32.97% vote share.

The voter turnout in Chhattisgarh was 78% in the first phase and 75.88% in the second. Prominent candidates included Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo, and former CM Raman Singh of the BJP.

Deputy CM TS Singh Deo lost against BJP’s Rajesh Agarwal from the Ambikapur assembly constituency in a high-stakes contest.

Contrary to exit poll predictions favoring the Congress, the BJP's decisive victory reshapes the political landscape in Chhattisgarh. Of the 90 Assembly seats, 51 fall in the general category, 10 are reserved for Scheduled Castes, and 29 for Scheduled Tribes.

Chhattisgarh, one of the five states holding elections this year, faced a challenging political environment for the Congress. The party grappled with corruption charges, with allegations implicating Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in the Mahadev betting app case. The Enforcement Directorate's involvement added to the challenges, intensifying the scrutiny of the incumbent CM.

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Internal conflicts and power struggles within the Congress, between Baghel and TS Singh Deo, also played a role. The deputy CM position was offered to Deo to address his dissatisfaction shortly before the elections.

Despite pledging a liquor ban in its 2018 manifesto, the Baghel government failed to implement it during its five-year tenure. The issue of Naxalism, a significant concern in Chhattisgarh, remained unresolved, with the Baghel government facing criticism for its unclear and ineffective policies in Naxal-affected areas.