RAIPUR: The Congress on Tuesday secured an emphatic victory in Chhattisgarh, having won 50 seats till 11 pm and expected to win 68 seats overall in the 90 seat Assembly. Following the showing, incumbent Chief Minister Raman Singh sent his resignation to the Governor late in the evening.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to get only three seats till 9 pm and was expected to win 15 seats with the Jogi-Maya alliance as third front led by former CM Ajit Jogi grabbing eight.
“It’s a historic people’s mandate given by the people and we are committed to fulfil the people’s agenda promised in the party’s manifesto,” state Congress party-incharge PL Punia said crediting the collective leadership behind the performance.
Meanwhile, Singh took moral responsibility for the defeat. “We will introspect on the result. I have sent my resignation to the Governor,” Singh said.With victory imminent, the chief ministerial candidate for the party is a hot topic. Four senior leaders —TS Singhdeo, PCC chief Bhupesh Baghel, former union minister Charandas Mahant and Lok Sabha member Tamradwaj Sahu — are in the race.
“The process of selection will be done as per our party’s tradition and will start from Wednesday after the elected legislators meet. Soon the Congress government will form in the state,” Punia added.
The mandate, according to political observers, was more against the BJP than in favour of the Congress. The swing seems to have come from undecided or neutral voters.