Similarly, another popular tribal leader Premsai Singh Tekam lost to BJP state President Ramsewak Paikra from Pratappur.
Son of former chief minister of undivided Madhya Pradesh Shyamacharan Shukla and sitting MLA from Rajim constituency Amitesh Shukla too fell by the wayside.
Reacting to the defeat, Union Minister and state Congress chief Charandas Mahant said there appeared an “internal sabotage” behind the defeat of his prominent party leaders.
“This is democracy and we consider it a bad luck that our big leaders about whose victory we were sure had to face defeat. It also indicates some internal sabotage,” he said.
Though Raman Singh scored an easy victory from Rajnandgaon, several of his ministers including Home Minister Nankiram Kanwar and Deputy Speaker of Assembly Narayan Chandel lost.
Prominent ministers who lost included Agriculture Minister Chandrashekhar Sahu, Water Resources Minister Ramvichar Netam, Sports minister Lata Usendi and Panchayati Raj Minister Hemchand Yadav.
A high-profile Congress winner was Amit Jogi, son of former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi. Amit trounced Sameera Paikra of BJP by 46,250 votes from Kota.
Veteran Congress leader Motilal Vora's son Arun too defeated BJP's Hemchand Yadav in Durg city.
However, Health Minister Amar Agrawal won Bilaspur, Housing and Environment Minister Rajesh Munat emerged victorious from Raipur city west, Forest Minister Vikra Usendi from Antagarh and Tribal Welfare Minister Kedar Kashyap from Narayanpur seat.
