In a dramatic turn of events during the Raipur South Assembly by-election, Congress leader Kanhaiya Agrawal reached the Collectorate at the final hour to submit his nomination. While senior Congress leaders were busy strategizing for the victory of their official candidate, Akash Sharma, Kanhaiya Agrawal’s unexpected move added tension within the party.

As soon as the news of Agrawal's nomination reached Congress leaders, PCC Chief Deepak Baij and other senior figures immediately contacted him, urging him to withdraw from the race. Following their appeals, Agrawal agreed not to submit his nomination, averting a potential crisis for the party. However, for a brief moment, his actions created significant internal challenges.

It’s worth noting that Kanhaiya Agrawal, who had contested the last Assembly election in 2018 as the Congress candidate, had lost to BJP’s Brijmohan Agrawal by a margin of around 17,000 votes. With Brijmohan now serving as an MP, there was speculation that Congress might choose Kanhaiya again for the by-election. In anticipation, Agrawal had already purchased the nomination papers even before Congress announced its candidate. However, the party decided to back young leader Akash Sharma, leaving Agrawal disappointed.