The most exciting triangular contest between the three giants is being seen in Patan constituency, situated a few kilometers away from the capital of Chhattisgarh, Raigarh. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his nephew and BJP MP Vijay Baghel are face to face with each other. The candidature of his ‘one-time rival’ in Congress, Amit Jogi, son of former CM Ajit Jogi, has made the fight triangular. This is the fourth time that uncle (Bhupesh) and nephew (Vijay) are contesting elections against each other. Voting is taking place in the second phase of assembly elections in Patan assembly constituency on Friday, November 17.
Patan has traditionally been the stronghold of the Baghels (uncle and nephew), who have been contesting the seat since 1993. In the year 2008, Bhupesh Baghel once lost to BJP candidate Vijay Baghel. He was defeated by BJP’s Vijay Baghel by 8000 votes.
Let us tell you that Bhupesh Baghel and Vijay Baghel have contested elections against each other after the elections of 2003, 2008 and 2013. This is the fourth time that they are contesting elections against each other. Interestingly, both the candidates are from Kurmi community.
In this Assembly election, the contest has become triangular, especially with former CM Ajit Jogi’s son Amit Jogi joining the fray at the last moment from regional party Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J).
Competition between uncle and nephew for the fourth time
Bhupesh Baghel has won the election from this seat twice. After the formation of Chhattisgarh as a new state in 2000, Bhupesh Baghel won the 2003 elections. At that time Chief Minister Ajit Jogi had made him the Revenue Minister. At that time Bhupesh Baghel won the election from Vijay Baghel by 6,909 votes. But in the year 2008, Vijay Baghel, who was a candidate on BJP ticket, won.
In the 2013 elections, Vijay Baghel again contested against Bhupesh Baghel, but this time Bhupesh won. In the year 2018, Motilal Sahu was a candidate against CM Bhupesh Baghel. Vijay Baghel did not contest elections in the year 2018 and in the year 2019 became MP by winning from Durg Lok Sabha seat. But in this year’s elections, Vijay Baghel and Bhupesh Baghel are again facing each other for the fourth time.
With his nephew Vijay Baghel on public platforms and recently he commented sarcastically and said that “In relationship, we seem like your father.” Apart from this, the rift between Bhupesh and Jogi remained an election issue even before and after Ajit Jogi was expelled from the Congress party.
Amit Jogi made the contest triangular
Despite the election noise, the locals of this high-profile seat, mostly from agricultural background and busy in harvesting, do not show any concern about the development and progress in the constituency. They express satisfaction over the welfare schemes for farmers, road connectivity to remote villages and free facilities provided by their sitting MLA Bhupesh. However, his affection and liking towards Vijay Baghel also cannot be ignored.
The decisive factors of the constituency include Kurmi, Sahu, Satnami and tribal voters. Due to the Baghel faction, Kurmi and Sahu votes have been divided. However, with Amit Jogi in the fray and campaigning by the JCC (J) party, there are more chances that he will influence the vote margin, thereby making an impact. Satnami and tribal votes also have influence on this assembly seat.
Know which community has influence
All eyes are on the most high-profile seat traditionally occupied by the uncle-nephew duo. It is believed that the caste census announced by the Congress is to fulfill a long-awaited demand for the OBCs, which include the Sahu and Kurmi communities.
Patan assembly constituency has more than 2.1 lakh voters, of which 33 percent are Kurmi, 35 percent Sahu and 16 percent Satnami, of which 1.4 lakh are male voters and 1.8 lakh are female voters. Bhupesh had defeated BJP candidate Motilal Sahu from Patan seat in 2018 by 84,352 votes.
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