The BJP and the ruling Congress are locked in a neck and neck contest in Chhattisgarh, according to the latest trends available from counting of votes in the state. While the Congress was ahead in the initial trends, as the counting progressed the BJP has made good gains. The halfway mark for the 90-member assembly of Chhattisgarh is 46.BJP chief in Chhattisgarh, Arun Sao claimed that the people of the state have already rejected the Congress party. "The Congress party is scared and nervous. Whenever Congress is about to lose or lose, it blames the EVMs and sometimes it blames the Constitution. Congress party is going to lose the elections. The people of Chhattisgarh have rejected them," he said.The first phase was held in 20 constituencies on November 7 with 223 candidates in the contest while the polling in the remaining constituencies with 958 candidates were held in the second phase on November 17. The voter turnout for both phases combined was 76.31 per cent, slightly lower than the 2018 polls. In the first phase, 78 per cent of voter turnout was recorded and in the second phase, it was 75.88 per cent.As counting of votes commenced in Chhattisgarh, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel extended wishes to all the candidates who are seeking a mandate to the 90-member assembly. "Today is the day of the mandate. Salute to 'Janata Janardan'. Best wishes to all the candidates," Baghel said in a post on X.