The 2023 Chhattisgarh Assembly election in Kanker (ST) ended with Asha Ram Netam of the BJP at the top of the official count. Asha Ram Netam polled 67,980 votes, while Shankar Dhruwa of the INC finished second with 67,964. The difference between the two was 16 votes. With 182,944 registered electors and turnout recorded at about 81.55%, the constituency produced a substantial pool of polled votes from which the final verdict emerged.
The winner recorded 45.57% of the vote shown in the ECI detailed result, compared with 45.56% for the runner-up. Hemlal Markam of GGP was the next notable candidate with 4,236 votes (2.84%), while NOTA received 2,729. These figures place the winning margin in the context of the full contest rather than treating the result as only a two-name headline.
2023 official result at a glance
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Vote share | Position |
| Asha Ram Netam | BJP | 67,980 | 45.57% | Winner |
| Shankar Dhruwa | INC | 67,964 | 45.56% | Runner-up |
| Hemlal Markam | GGP | 4,236 | 2.84% | Third major |
| NOTA | NOTA | 2,729 | — | — |
Winning margin: 16 votes | Total electors: 182,944 | Turnout: about 81.55% | NOTA: 2,729
How the contest took shape
The defining numerical feature of the Kanker (ST) result was the separation between the first two candidates. Asha Ram Netam finished 16 votes ahead of Shankar Dhruwa. The runner-up, in turn, was 63,728 votes ahead of Hemlal Markam. That distribution shows where the contest was concentrated when counting ended and how much electoral space remained outside the two leading candidates.
Hemlal Markam received 4,236 votes. NOTA recorded 2,729. Neither figure is interchangeable with the winning margin: each represents a separate part of the constituency’s final vote record. The order of finish was determined by the certified candidate totals, with Asha Ram Netam first and Shankar Dhruwa second.
Turnout, electorate and the scale of the result
Kanker (ST) had 182,944 electors in the 2023 statistical record and turnout was about 81.55%. Participation provides the scale behind the result, while the candidate totals show how the votes cast were distributed. Asha Ram Netam’s 67,980 votes translated into 45.57%, and Shankar Dhruwa’s 67,964 votes into 45.56%.
The vote-share gap between the top two was about 0.01 percentage points. Read together with the raw margin of 16 votes, it gives a concise picture of the 2023 mandate in Kanker (ST): who finished first, how far ahead the winner was, and how closely the runner-up followed in proportional terms.
The third candidate and NOTA in the final picture
The result also contained choices beyond the two leading parties. Hemlal Markam of GGP polled 4,236 votes (2.84%), while 2,729 voters chose NOTA. Those numbers are part of the official result and help complete the constituency story, even though they were smaller than the totals of the winner and runner-up.
Election Mandi Analysis
The established 2023 record in Kanker (ST) is straightforward: Asha Ram Netam led the count with 67,980 votes and defeated Shankar Dhruwa by 16. The winner-runner-up share gap was about 0.01 percentage points, turnout was about 81.55%, and the next notable candidate, Hemlal Markam, received 4,236. These verified figures describe the 2023 verdict without extending it into a prediction about a later election.
(FAQ)
Who won the Kanker (ST) Assembly seat in 2023?
Asha Ram Netam of BJP won with 67,980 votes.
Who was the runner-up?
Shankar Dhruwa of INC finished second with 67,964 votes.
What was the winning margin?
The winning margin was 16 votes.
What were the top two vote shares?
Asha Ram Netam recorded 45.57% and Shankar Dhruwa recorded 45.56%.
Who was the third notable candidate?
Hemlal Markam of GGP received 4,236 votes (2.84%).
How many votes did NOTA receive?
NOTA received 2,729 votes.
How many electors were registered?
The constituency had 182,944 electors in the 2023 ECI statistical record.
What was turnout?
Turnout was about 81.55% according to ECI AC-wise voter information.
Does the 2023 result decide a future election?
No. It records the established 2023 result; any later election has to be assessed from fresh official data and the candidates actually in the contest.
Sources
Primary source: Election Commission of India — Chhattisgarh Legislative Election 2023 Statistical Report, including Detailed Results, Constituency Data Summary and AC-wise Voters Information. Result date: 3 December 2023. Last verified for this article: 24 September 2026.
