The countdown to the Raipur South by-election has begun, with campaign activities officially halting today at 6 p.m. Following this, candidates will focus on door-to-door outreach ahead of the election on November 13, with vote counting scheduled for November 23.

Key Contestants in Raipur South By-Election

This by-election was called after Brijmohan Agrawal, who held the Raipur South seat for eight consecutive terms, was elected as a Member of Parliament. The BJP has fielded former MP Sunil Soni as their candidate, while the Congress has introduced new face Aakash Sharma, former President of the NSUI Chhattisgarh.

Profile of Sunil Soni and Aakash Sharma

• Sunil Soni: Beginning his political career as a student leader, Soni served as President of Durga College, was elected as a municipal councilor, and later became Mayor of Raipur from 2004 to 2010. He also held roles as Chairman of the Raipur Development Authority and Vice President of the BJP's state unit. In 2019, Soni was elected as an MP from Raipur.
• Aakash Sharma: Currently President of the Chhattisgarh Youth Congress, Sharma previously served as the state head of NSUI Chhattisgarh and became the national secretary of NSUI in 2018. Notably, he is the first leader in the state to have led both NSUI and the Youth Congress.

BJP and Congress Confident of Victory

The BJP has held the Raipur South seat for the past 40 years, with Brijmohan Agrawal consistently winning in this constituency. The BJP is optimistic about continuing their winning streak, especially with Agrawal actively managing the campaign. Meanwhile, Congress has mobilized its senior leaders to campaign for Sharma.

As Raipur’s voters head to the polls, it remains to be seen whether they will extend the BJP’s legacy with Sunil Soni or give the Congress’s Aakash Sharma a chance to lead Raipur South.