RAIPUR: After the withdrawal of nominations in 70 assembly constituencies of the second phase under Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections-2023, now only 958 candidates are in the election fray.

On the last day of withdrawal of nomination for the second phase on Thursday, a total of 108 candidates withdrew their names.

The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Chhattisgarh stated that a maximum 14 candidates withdrew their names from Raipur City South Assembly Constituency.

After scrutiny of nomination papers in the second phase assembly constituencies, nominations of a total of 1,066 candidates were found valid, whereas till October 30, the last day of nomination in the second phase, a total of 1,219 candidates had filed their nominations.

Under Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023, in the second phase, the candidates in fray are Raipur Nagar West (26), Durg city (24), Bilha and Bhatapara (23), Raipur Nagar South, and Beltara (22), Bilaspur (21), Mahasamund, Janjgir-Champa, and Kasdol (20 each). Raigarh (20), Korba, Dharsiwa, and Raipur Rural (19 each), Bemetara and Bhatgaon (18), Lormi, Sitapur, and Patan (17 each), Vaishali Nagar, Kota, Mungeli, Akaltara, Jaijaipur, and Khallari (16 each).

Similarly in Kurud (15), Katghora, Takhatpur, Sakti, Raipur Nagar North, Sanjari Balod, Durg Rural, Saja, and Nawagarh (14-each), Pratappur, Samri, Ambikapur, Masturi, Abhanpur, Bhilai Nagar, and  Gunderdehi (13 each). Premnagar, Lundra, and Dhamtari (12 each), 11 each in Ramanujganj, Jashpur, Kunkuri, Pamgarh, Balodabazar, Arang, Rajim, 10 in Marwahi, Basna, Ahiwara, Bharatpur-Sonhat, Manendragarh, Sarangarh, Rampur, Palitanakhar. , 9 candidates are left in Chandrapur, Bilaigarh, 8 in Baikunthpur, Pathalgaon, Lailunga, Kharsia, Saraipali, 7 in Dharamjaigarh, Sihawa, 6 in Bindra Nawagarh, and 4 in Daundi Lohara.

It is noteworthy that under the Assembly Elections-2023, a total of 70 assembly constituencies of Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg and Surguja divisions are included in the second phase. For the second phase, on November 17, a total of 1 crore 63 lakh 14 thousand 479 voters will be able to exercise their franchise, which includes 81 lakh 41 thousand 624 male voters, 81 lakh 72 thousand 171 female voters and 684 voters of the third gender.

In the second phase under Assembly Election-2023, Bharatpur-Sonhat, Manendragarh, Baikunthpur, Premnagar, Bhatgaon, Pratappur, Ramanujganj, Samri, Lundra, Ambikapur, Sitapur, Jashpur, Kunkuri, Pathalgaon, Lailunga, Raigarh, Sarangarh, Kharsia, Dharamjaigarh, Rampur, Korba, Katghora, Pali-Tanakhar, Marwahi, Kota, Lormi, Mungeli, Takhatpur, Bilha, Bilaspur, Beltara, Masturi, Akaltara, Janjgir-Champa, Sakti, Chandrapur, Jaijapur, Pamgarh, Saraipali, Basna, Khallari, Mahasamund, Bilaigarh, Kasdol, Balodabazar, Bhatapara, Dharsiwa, Raipur Rural, Raipur Nagar West, Raipur Nagar North, Raipur Nagar South, Arang, Abhanpur, Rajim, Bindranavagarh, Sihawa, Kurud, Dhamtari, Sanjari Balod, Dondilohara, Gunderdehi, Patan, Durg Rural, Durg Voting will be held in City, Bhilai Nagar, Vaishali Nagar, Ahiwara, Saja, Bemetara and Navagarh assembly constituencies on November 17, 2023. Counting of votes for both the first and second phases will take place on December 3, 2023.