It’s again a two horse race too close to call in Chhattisgarh as the ruling BJP and Congress seem to be heading for a nail biting contest in the mid-November 2013 assembly polls.
As 90 assembly constituencies vote on November 11 and 19, BJP is trying to ward off anti-incumbency to score a third straight win under CM Raman Singh. Initially, the Congress got bogged down with infighting but it has now put its house in order and gearing up to fight BJP.
Since Chhattisgarh was formed in November 2000, there has been a shift in election dynamics of the region — a Congress stronghold till it was part of MP. A new trend of razor-sharp contests emerged in the state’s maiden 2003 poll. Electoral fights became closer in 2008.
In 2003, the margin between BJP — which won power — and Congress was just 2.55% as the saffron party secured 39.2% votes and Congress polled 36.7%. It translated to 50 seats for BJP, 37 for Congress, two for BSP and one for NCP.
In 2008, the margin of votes between BJP and Congress shrunk to 1.7% as BJP won 50 seats, 38 went to Congress and two to BSP. This time, too, in Bastar and north Chhattisgarh, there are pointers to very close contests in almost all constituencies. No other party has so far been able to make a dent in the state’s bipolar politics.
For BJP, Bastar, which has 12 seats, is crucial. It won nine seats here in 2003 and 11 in 2008. Around 40 seats are either reserved for tribals or influenced decisively by STs, who constitute 35% of the population. Understandably, both parties are scrambling for tribal votes.
The CPI, which won a few Bastar seats when the region was part of MP, is trying to open its account this time. Its popular leader Manish Kunjam, president of Adivasi Mahasabha, is contesting from Konta (ST) and the party has fielded nominees from a couple of other tribal seats. “Be it Salwa Judum or excesses of security forces, our party has stood by the tribals. That’s our strength,” CPI veteran Chittaranjan Bakshi says.
Chhattisgarh Swabhiman Manch, a political outfit floated by an expelled BJP leader Tarachand Sahu, and a number of parties, including Nationalist Peoples Party, have come together for a third front. They’re demanding a rise in quotas in government jobs for OBCs and work for locals in new industrial units.
Congress’ emphasis is on the May 25 Maoist strike in Bastar that eliminated frontline party leaders. “At least in three constituencies — Rajnandgaon, Dantewada and Kharasia where relatives of our martyrs are contesting — our main talking point is the state’s failure to protect our leaders”, says PCC chief Dr Charandas Mahant.
“In the CM’s constituency, Rajnandgaon, it’s the only issue as a slain former legislator’s wife Alka Mudaliyar is in the fray. Singh has to answer for his government’s lapses.”
BJP, on the other hand, is banking on its government’s achievements in its last two tenures; particularly welfare programmes like its food security scheme that covers nearly 90% of the state’s population.
“People here are a lot closer to their elected representatives unlike elsewhere. This raises their aspirations. No other issue, barring regional development, can impress voters. Our development and welfare initiatives are our strength”, says state BJP spokesman Ajay Chandrakar.
Singh’s populist measures won him the last two polls, forcing Congress to think along the same lines. The party has indicated that if voted to power it will provide free rice to the poor, electricity gratis to farmers and increase SC reservations to 16% from 12%.
Manifestos of both parties, to be released by the month-end, are expected to contain a heavy dose of populist schemes.
Both BJP and Congress have declared their first list. BJP has denied tickets to 10 legislators in the first list of 67 and introduced new faces to beat anti-incumbency while Congress is banking on young faces.
Maoists have given a poll boycott call in Bastar and indicated the possibility of violence during elections. A massive security umbrella has been thrown over the Naxalite areas, mostly voting in the first phase.
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