(RAJNANDGAON MAYOR ELECTION )
Purushottam Tiwari
Rajnandgaon (BTI): The race for the Rajnandgaon mayoral seat has begun as prominent candidates from the BJP, Congress, and independents filed their nominations on the last day. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded 52-year-old Madhusudan Yadav, a former mayor, former MP, and current vice-president of the Chhattisgarh BJP. On the other hand, the Congress has chosen 38-year-old Nikhil Dwivedi, a former national secretary of NSUI and a member of the Bhupesh Baghel-led government’s Tourism Corporation.
Both candidates submitted their nomination papers today, marking the start of the political battle. Additionally, BJP and Congress have announced candidates for all 51 wards, making the contest highly competitive.
The mayoral race promises to be intense. Congress’s decision to nominate Nikhil Dwivedi, bypassing Kulbir Chhabra—a leader known for his grassroots connections—has been attributed entirely to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s influence. Similarly, BJP’s decision to back Madhusudan Yadav highlights Dr. Raman Singh’s continued support. Yadav has been a prominent figure in municipal politics for over 25 years and seems to have avoided any significant anti-incumbency sentiment.
Interestingly, Dr. Raman Singh was present during Yadav’s nomination filing and even posted about it on X (formerly Twitter), indicating the significance of this election. This scenario is likely to shape up as another face-off between Dr. Raman Singh and Bhupesh Baghel.
In addition to BJP and Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has also made its presence felt by nominating senior journalist Kamlesh Swarnkar as its candidate. Swarnkar’s widespread influence across the city adds another dimension to the contest.
Furthermore, independent candidate Champu Gupta has added excitement to the election. Known for his dramatic campaigns in the 2020 municipal elections, where he, his mother, and his wife contested from different wards, Gupta has a history of impactful campaigns. After winning as an independent, he joined Congress but later resigned following disputes with former mayor Hema Deshmukh.
With such a diverse array of candidates, the Rajnandgaon mayoral elections promise to be a thrilling political showdown.”