The Congress’ first of six Lok Sabha candidates for Chhattisgarh includes two ex-ministers, and a sitting MP, apart from former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
While it announced the candidatures of Bhupesh Baghel (Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha), Vikas Upadhyay (Raipur), Tamradhwaj Sahu (Mahasamund), Rajendra Sahu (Durg), Jyotsna Mahant (Korba) and Shiv Dahariya (Janjgir-Champa-SC), it is yet to announce the remaining five, that includes the Bastar seat which is currently being represented by its State president Deepak Baij.
Mr. Baij lost the last Assembly polls as did former ministers Mr. Tamradhwaj Sahu and Mr. Dahariya. The party – whose best ever Lok Sabha tally since the formation of the State is two out of 11 it registered in 2019 – hopes to improve its tally. The ruling BJP has already announced all its 11 candidates. In five of these six seats, a different candidate had contested in the last general elections.