Chhattisgarh Elections: Raman Singh Won't Be The Face, BJP May Bank On PM Modi's Popularity

Raman Singh, who has served as the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh three times, will not be the face of the BJP for the upcoming state elections according to a report from NDTV.

The party has decided to contest the elections under collective leadership.

In an unprecedented move, the BJP has chosen not to field a Chief Ministerial candidate for the Chhattisgarh state assembly elections. This decision, according to insiders, marks a significant change in the party's history in the state.

The party's approach has undergone a strategic shift, which was finalized before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Raipur.

The aim is to leverage his popular image to gain an advantage in the elections.

In order to address the issue of factionalism within the state unit, a decision was made after a lengthy meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and senior BJP leaders of the state. This decision aims to promote unity and cohesion within the party.

The BJP has chosen Om Mathur, the party's National Vice President, and Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Health Minister, to lead the party's campaign in Chhattisgarh.

Chhattisgarh poses a significant challenge for the BJP, as they faced a resounding defeat in the previous assembly election. The gap in vote share between the Congress and BJP widened to over 10 percent.

In 2018, the BJP only managed to secure 15 out of 90 seats in the state, while the Congress won a massive 68 seats.

However, the BJP rebounded in the subsequent 2019 general elections, winning over 50 per cent of the votes and securing 9 out of the 11 parliamentary seats in Chhattisgarh.

The Baghel government's five-year tenure has come to an end, and the BJP sees an opportunity to make a comeback in Chhattisgarh. They believe that there is a growing anti-incumbency sentiment against the current government.

The BJP is optimistic about their chances in Chhattisgarh as the five-year rule of the Baghel government comes to a close. They believe that the public is increasingly dissatisfied with the incumbent administration.

Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan, and Telangana are scheduled to take place later this year. These elections will be the final round of state elections before the crucial Lok Sabha polls next year.