Campaigning for Marwahi Assembly by-poll ends
   Date :02-Nov-2020

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Staff Reporter :
 
RAIPUR,
 
As many as eight candidates are in fray for the by-poll, wherein, the direct contest is between the BJP and the ruling Congress candidates
 
 
Amidst allegations and counter-allegations, the campaigning for the by-poll at Marwahi Assembly Constituency ended on Sunday, where voting will be held on November 3. Now, the parties and candidates can take up a door-to-door campaign before polling on November 3. The by-election in the Marwahi (ST) Legislative Assembly is being held after Janta Congress Chhattisgarh(J) MLA and former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi died on May 29. However, the by-poll which has become a prestige issue for both Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Indian National Congress (INC), where for the first time since the inception of Chhattisgarh State, there is no candidate from the Jogi family.
 
The Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian National Congress have led the campaigning for their respective parties in the Jogi’s bastion, where during the last leg of campaigning JCC(J) extended its support to BJP candidate, making the contest more interesting. It is worth mentioning here that no one from the Jogi family could contest the by-poll, as the Election Commission had rejected the nomination papers of JCC (J) President Amit Jogi and his wife Richa Jogi after their respective Social Status (Caste) Certificates were cancelled. While BJP National Vice-President Dr Raman Singh along with senior BJP leaders, including Brijmohan Agrawal, Amar Agrawal, Narayan Chandel, Ajay Chandrakar, etc led the campaign for BJP, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his entire Cabinet led the canvassing on behalf of INC. During the campaigning, the ruling Congress highlighted several pro-farmers and pro-tribals measures taken by its government, which included launching of Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana, cow dung procurement scheme, distribution of forest rights certificates and initiatives taken to ensure relief to people during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
While the opposition BJP made failure of the ruling Congress Government on all the fronts and deteriorating law and order situation in State, its main issue coupled with several local issues like insult to former Chief Minister Late Ajit Jogi. As many as eight candidates are in the fray for the by-poll, wherein the direct contest is between the BJP and the ruling Congress candidates. While the BJP has fielded Dr Gambheer Singh, Professor and HOD (General Surgery) Raipur Institute of Medical Sciences, the INC has fielded Dr Krishan Kumar Dhruw, who had a long stint as the Block Medical Officer (BMO) in the Marwahi area.
 
The other candidates in the fray are Ritu Pandram of Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP), Dr Urmila Singh Marko of Rashriya Gondwana Party, Pushpa Khelan Korche of Ambedkarite Party of India, Beersingh Nagesh of Bharatiya Tribal Party, Lakshman Porte of Bharatiya Sarvajan Hitay Samaj Party and an independent- Sonmati Salam. As many as 1,90,907 voters, including 93,694 male voters, 97,209 female voters and four third gender voters, will be exercising their franchise on November 3, 2020.