Three-time chief minister of Chhattisgarh, Raman Singh, is now leading by

a margin of 1,500 votes in Rajnandgaon assembly constituency. Singh is pitted against Karuna Shukla (Congress), niece of former prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

A former MP from Janjgir Lok Sabha constituency, Shukla left the BJP ahead of assembly polls in 2013 and joined the Congress next year, alleging that she was sidelined by the state BJP leadership.

After joining Congress, Shukla had contested 2014 Lok sabha elections on the party ticket from Bilaspur constituency and lost to BJP's Lakhanlal Sahu.

Earlier in 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Shukla was a BJP candidate from Korba seat and had lost to Charan Das Mahant of Congress.

For Shukla, it would be the toughest test in her political career as Singh is seeking a fourth consecutive term as CM after ousting Congress' Ajit Jogi from power in 2003

This is a developing story. Please check back later for more details

First Published:Dec 11, 2018 9:32 AM IST