The 2023 Chhattisgarh Assembly election in Keshkal (ST) ended with Neelkanth Tekam of the BJP at the top of the official count. Neelkanth Tekam polled 77,438 votes, while Sant Ram Netam of the INC finished second with 71,878. The difference between the two was 5,560 votes. With 207,062 registered electors and turnout recorded at about 82.39%, the constituency produced a substantial pool of polled votes from which the final verdict emerged.
The winner recorded 45.39% of the vote shown in the ECI detailed result, compared with 42.13% for the runner-up. Jugal Kishor Bodh of AAP was the next notable candidate with 4,216 votes (2.47%), while NOTA received 4,335. 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 |
| Neelkanth Tekam | BJP | 77,438 | 45.39% | Winner |
| Sant Ram Netam | INC | 71,878 | 42.13% | Runner-up |
| Jugal Kishor Bodh | AAP | 4,216 | 2.47% | Third major |
| NOTA | NOTA | 4,335 | — | — |
Winning margin: 5,560 votes | Total electors: 207,062 | Turnout: about 82.39% | NOTA: 4,335
How the contest took shape
The defining numerical feature of the Keshkal (ST) result was the separation between the first two candidates. Neelkanth Tekam finished 5,560 votes ahead of Sant Ram Netam. The runner-up, in turn, was 67,662 votes ahead of Jugal Kishor Bodh. That distribution shows where the contest was concentrated when counting ended and how much electoral space remained outside the two leading candidates.
Jugal Kishor Bodh received 4,216 votes. NOTA recorded 4,335. 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 Neelkanth Tekam first and Sant Ram Netam second.
Turnout, electorate and the scale of the result
Keshkal (ST) had 207,062 electors in the 2023 statistical record and turnout was about 82.39%. Participation provides the scale behind the result, while the candidate totals show how the votes cast were distributed. Neelkanth Tekam’s 77,438 votes translated into 45.39%, and Sant Ram Netam’s 71,878 votes into 42.13%.
The vote-share gap between the top two was about 3.26 percentage points. Read together with the raw margin of 5,560 votes, it gives a concise picture of the 2023 mandate in Keshkal (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. Jugal Kishor Bodh of AAP polled 4,216 votes (2.47%), while 4,335 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 Keshkal (ST) is straightforward: Neelkanth Tekam led the count with 77,438 votes and defeated Sant Ram Netam by 5,560. The winner-runner-up share gap was about 3.26 percentage points, turnout was about 82.39%, and the next notable candidate, Jugal Kishor Bodh, received 4,216. These verified figures describe the 2023 verdict without extending it into a prediction about a later election.
(FAQ)
Who won the Keshkal (ST) Assembly seat in 2023?
Neelkanth Tekam of BJP won with 77,438 votes.
Who was the runner-up?
Sant Ram Netam of INC finished second with 71,878 votes.
What was the winning margin?
The winning margin was 5,560 votes.
What were the top two vote shares?
Neelkanth Tekam recorded 45.39% and Sant Ram Netam recorded 42.13%.
Who was the third notable candidate?
Jugal Kishor Bodh of AAP received 4,216 votes (2.47%).
How many votes did NOTA receive?
NOTA received 4,335 votes.
How many electors were registered?
The constituency had 207,062 electors in the 2023 ECI statistical record.
What was turnout?
Turnout was about 82.39% 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.
