Uncle-nephew clash to woo Kurmi voters in Patan

CM Bhupesh Baghel, a five-term MLA from the seat, wants to win big as a close contest would be embarrassing.

- RAHUL CHHABRA

The uncle-nephew clash set up in the Patan constituency of Chhattisgarh may go down to the wire but Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, a five-term MLA from the seat, may want to win handsomely as close contest would be embarrassing for a sitting chief minister. Also, tight contest may also revive the bitter memory of his 2008 defeat at the hands of BJP challenger, nephew and sitting MP Vijay Baghel.

While Vijay Baghel may want to repeat his 2008 feat of winning with a margin of 8,000 votes, the Chief Minister and his campaign management team would want to assert their superiority in the Assembly election on November 17.

Bhupesh Baghel's has managed to consolidate his position every time he contested from here after the 2008 defeat. In 2018, he won 84,352 votes, in 2013 he got 68,185 votes and in 2008 he got 51,158 votes. The chief minister has tasted success whenever the turnout has been high - in the region of 80%. In 2008, when he lost to his nephew the turnout was 71.8%.