Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday filed nomination papers from his traditional Patan Assembly seat.
Speaker Charan Das Mahant and Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu accompanied him.
Before filing the nomination, Baghel shared his pictures on social media in which his wife is seen applying 'tilak' on his forehead at their residence in Bhilai.
Baghel has been elected five times from the seat -- in 1993, 1998, 2003, 2013 and 2018.
In 2008, he lost to the BJP's Vijay Baghel, who is also his nephew. The BJP has again fielded Vijay Baghel, now a Lok Sabha member from Durg.
Both the Chief Minister and the BJP candidate are Kurmi -- an influential OBC community in the state, which has a sizable population in the constituency. Earlier, at a public rally, Baghel hit out at the BJP saying it has no concrete plan for development.
Citing that Congress government fulfilled its elections promises and purchased paddy at Rs 2,500 and waived off farm loans, Baghel said they were committed to fulfill the latest promises too. The Congress’ three key announcements are caste census, increase in procurement of paddy per acre from 15 to 20 quintals and provide houses for 1.75 million homeless people.
