What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
NEW DELHI: In a noteworthy turn of events from 2018, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has clinched victory, unseating the Congress government led by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, surpassing the halfway mark with 54 seats, according to the latest update from the Election Commission.
The tribal-dominated Surguja, Dantewada, and Bastar divisions decisively shifted towards the BJP, signifying a substantial departure from Congress’ 2018 landslide. These regions, boasting tribal densities of 70 per cent, 77 per cent, and 66 per cent, respectively, played a pivotal role in the BJP’s victory.
Contrary to the predictions of exit polls, which largely foresaw another term for Congress, the election results unfolded as a political surprise. Notably, in the 29 reserved Scheduled Tribe (ST) seats, the BJP secured 17, while Congress managed 11, proving instrumental in the BJP’s overall victory.
The two-phase voting for the 90-member Chhattisgarh Assembly took place on November 7 and 17. The second phase recorded a voter turnout of 68.15 per cent for 70 constituencies on November 17, while the first phase, encompassing 20 seats in the Naxal-affected state, witnessed a high voter turnout of 78 per cent.
Examining historical data reveals a consistent trend, where the party securing the most reserved seats, including those in Lok Sabha elections, emerged victorious in the six elections since the 2008 delimitation exercise, which involved the redrawing of constituency boundaries based on the proportion of Scheduled Caste (SC) and ST populations.
READ MORE: The enigmatic twist: Narottam Mishra’s Datia dethroning amidst BJP’s Madhya Pradesh triumph
Previous Elections:
During the 2013 Assembly and 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Congress failed to secure any SC-reserved seats. In contrast, the BJP dominated with 32 and 33 seats out of the total 34 SC-reserved seats, respectively, and also prevailed in most ST-reserved seats.
Breaking down the Assembly constituencies, even in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BJP secured the majority of votes in 32 out of 34 SC-reserved seats and 19 out of 25 ST-reserved seats. Conversely, Congress led in only one SC-reserved seat and five ST-reserved seats.
The 2018 Assembly election stands out as the sole instance in the last four elections in Chhattisgarh where Congress managed to penetrate the BJP’s stronghold in reserved constituencies.
Although Congress won more reserved seats, its victory was not as pronounced as the BJP’s in the other three elections during that period. In 2018, Congress won 19 SC-reserved seats and 12 ST-reserved seats, compared to BJP’s 12 and 9 seats, respectively. However, Congress failed to capitalise on this momentum during the subsequent 2019 Lok Sabha election.
READ MORE: Mizoram election 2023 results: ZPM celebrates victory, CM Zoramthanga loses constituency
The 2023 Chhattisgarh election results indicate a significant political shift, underscoring the BJP’s resilience and strategic stronghold in reserved constituencies, particularly among the SC and ST populations.
