Exciting contest for 4 seats in Raipur

Raipur, Nov 19 (UNI) All eyes are on the fate of two BJP ministers and the Congress' Chhattisgarh Working President who are among 67 candidates in the fray for the state capital's four Assembly constituencies going to polls tomorrow long with 47 others in for second and last phase.

Tourism, Revenue, Sports and Culture Minister Brijmohan Agrawal is in the prestigious contest from Raipur South while another Minister Rajesh Munat is in a pitched battle to retain Raipur West.

Congress state Working President Satyanarayan Sharma is contesting from newly-created Raipur Rural.

Four-time MLA from Raipur City, Mr Agrawal is a popular face here and the 'number two' man in the Raman Singh government. Congress nominee Yogesh Tiwari, also the Youth Congress state chief, is pitted against Mr Agrawal in an interesting battle for votes.

among 22 candidates including the Bahujan Samaj Party's Dr Tiwari.

Mr Agrawal conducted electrifying electioneering in his constituency outsmarting other nominees while on the campaign trail.

In Raipur West, Mr Munat seems to be facing voters' ire in select pockets for his alleged behaviour and his Congress counterpart Santosh Agrawal is giving the sitting MLA a tough contest.

However, both candidates were upbeat about winning but the entry of BJP rebel Virendra Pandey as an independent has thrown a spanner in the works for Mr Munat. Altogether 14 nominees are in the fray for Raipur West.

Raipur Rural will witness a keen contest between five-time legislator Mr Sharma and the BJP's Nandkumar Sahu. Mr Sharma is said to be popular among voters and enjoys a clear edge over the BJP and 17 other nominees.

Two new faces are in the contest from newly-created Raipur North.

Congress candidate and Leader of the Opposition in the Raipur Municipal Corporation Kuldeep Singh Juneja is locked in political 'mortal combat' against the BJP's Sacchidanand Upasane. Both the BJP and Congress nominees have clean images and the result could swing either way.

There are 14 candidates in the fray from Raipur North.

UNI MB AC SW VC1715