After the announcement of candidates for all the Assembly seats going to polls in the first phase, election scenario hots up in Bastar.
While the board of the electoral chess has been laid open, chances of taking on rivals are wide open with contestants ready to dig up each other’s shortfall. As the public contact activities picked from the day one itself, direct contest between ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Opposition Congress on most of the seats has become a foregone conclusion barring a few like Konta where the likelihood of triangular contest thanks to entry of Communist Party of India candidate.
Jagdalpur: Interesting contest on the card
After the announcement of candidates, voice of dissidence has become louder in both the camps. While the Congress has put bet on an unknown young turk of the Mahara Samaj Shamu Kashyap, the BJP, despite facing opposition from all corners, preferred fielding the sitting MlA Santosh Bafna and thereby giving room to rivals for raising the voices of dissent. Both the political parties would have to face roadblocks in the battle of ballots.
Bastar: Focus will be on efficiency
While the Congress gave ticket to lakheshwar Baghel, who had lost the last poll by just 1,200 votes, under Rahul Formula rewarding the activeness of the candidate in public, BJP preferred repeating its old face Subhau Kashyap. Bastar electorate will lay stress on efficiency of their representative as the constituency was in limelight after scores of students suffered Fluorosis due to high fluoride content in drinking water and the State administration failed to make alternative arrangement.
Chitrakot: Allegation against sitting MlA may be an issue
While the Congress has given rivals the chance to raise the bogey of dissidence by fielding a new face in Deepak Baij, BJP preferred repeating its sitting MlA Baiduram Kashyap overlooking the claims of District panchayat President lachchhuram Kashyap. Thus, while the Congress will have to overcome the opponents’ anger, the BJP candidate would have to bear the brunt of internal sabotage as well as the allegation of indulging in use of unfair means in exam and not doing much as a school kid died of electrocution in a Government function.
Kondagaon: Malnutrition can malign the image
Keeping his narrow defeat in the last Assembly election, Congress has once again repeated its candidate Mohan Markam under Rajiv Formula at the cost of enraging the senior party leader Mankuram Sodhi and his son Shankar Sodhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party has given another chance to its Minister lata Usendi to make a hat-trick. However, the abysmal failure of her ministry on malnutrition front has not only maligned the image of the state government but could also prove a potential roadblock to her.
Keshkal: Blame of inactivity can put on backfoot
Putting all rumours aside Congress has projected a new face, Santram Netan, from its armoury this time against the BJP’s old guard Sevakram Netam, the sitting MlA. Santram, being a fresher, has no dissidence to face, Sevakram Netam is facing the blame of being inactive and Congress would try its best to take advantage of the same.
Narayanpur: Healthcare mess can alter the fortune
Congress has fielded a new face, Chandan Kashyap, a teacher by profession, against BJP’s heavyweight Kedar Kashyap whom the ruling party gave chance for making second straight entry to Assembly. Though the Congress candidate would have to counter the dissidence of former MlA Anturam Kashyap, the State Tribal Development department Minister will have to bear the brunt of death due to diarrhoea as well failure of tribal development department in taking strict action in the abominable episode of rape with minor inmates of Jhaliamari Girls Hostel.
Kanker: Jahliamari blot may cast its shadow
Congress has fielded a young and energetic leader in young Shankar Dhruva and Bharatiya Janata Party too has replaced its sitting MlA Sumitra Markole by giving ticket to Sanjay Kodopi in its bid to make some cosmetic surgery to uplift the sullen mood of electorate in its favour but the anger against its sitting MlA facing the blame of inactiveness and the blot of infamous Jhaliamari Tribal girls Ashram rape incident may cast a shadow over the prospect of ruling party candidate.
Bhanupratappur: Dissidents can sabotage the prospect
Congress has fielded influential leader manoj Mandawi whereas changing its candidate the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has given a chance to its former district president Satis latia. Mandawi who in the last poll had created bad weather for Congress candidate by contesting as independent, has so far made his position better by homecoming, the BJP candidate latia will have to face the wrath of Tribal Commission chairman and former MlA Devlal Dugga and his supporters even if he makes fresh promises to electorate. Chances of sabotage are looming large.
Antagarh: Bengali community holds the key
In Antagarh Assembly constituency members of Bengali community decide the fate of winning candidate. From the constituency, both Congress and BJP have repeated their candidates. Manturam Pawar is choice of opposition party whereas the ruling party has once again reposed its faith in forest minister Viram Usendi. While the Congress is facing internal opposition, the ruling party may have to face the blame of overlooking the interest of ‘Bang Samaj’ while remaining in government.
Dantewada: Jeeram carnage may have debilitating effect
In Dantewada Assembly constituency Congress has fielded Devti Karma, widow of ‘Bastar Tiger’ Mahendra Karma, who martyred in Jeeram Valley carnage, with an eye on sympathy vote. On the other hand, BJP has once again expressed its faith in young Bhima Mandawi, the sitting MlA. While the Congress is having the tough task of winning over the opponents, blame of overlooking the interest of electorate against Mandawi can prove lethal to the prospects of the ruling party.
Bijapur: Voice of dissidence may affect prospects
In Bijapur Assembly constituency by making young turk Vikram Mandawi its candidate, Congress has fuelled dissidence of Sakni Chandraiyya and Nina Rawatiya, BJP on the other hand once again put its bet on sitting MlA Mahesh Gagda, who is often accused of remaining outside his constituency and thus inaccessible to public. He will also have to face the wrath of potential dissident leader Rajaram Todem.
Konta: Triangular fight on the cards
In the Maoist insurgency hit Konta Assembly constituency while the Congress has once again pitted its veteran Adiwasi leader Kawasi lakhma against all odds, BJP projected a new face in Dhaniram Barse and Communist Party of India is in the process of fielding Manish Kunjam preparing the ground for a triangular contest. In the constituency insurgency will be the issue and Congress will raise the issue of rise of Maoist violence during BJP regime, the ruling party as well as CPI will accuse the sitting Congress MlA of being a non-performer.