The Congress party which has been struggling for the last 10 years to form Government in Chhattisgarh, appears set to spring some surprises in the ensuing Assembly polls, specially on tribal hinterland seats, out of 18 Assembly constituencies going to polls in first phase, slated for November 11.
Notably, all the seven districts of Bastar division along with Rajnandgaon district will have voting on November 11. These two regions hold 18 Assembly constituencies. While Bastar division has 12 Assembly segments, Rajnandgaon has six seats while Bastar has single general category seat (Jagdalpur) besides 11 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes.
Rajnandgaon holds six Assembly constituencies, four of general category and one reserved each for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. In Bastar, BJP has its stranglehold with 11 seats in its kitty, while only one seat, ‘Konta’ is under Congress’ hold. In Rajnandgaon while SC seat ‘Khujji’ and Scheduled Tribe seat ‘Mohla Manpur’ is held by Congress, BJP has all four general seats including that of Rajnandgaon from where Chief Minister Raman Singh is MlA.
In this scenario, Opposition has nothing to lose and in fact, it has scored over the ruling party by not only announcing its candidates but also giving some shocks to BJP planners. On the other hand, this phase is very crucial for BJP for not only that Chief Minister himself is in fray and 11 Bastar seats which are very crucial for retaining power third time, are on stake but also because Congress strategists have given some jitters to it by fielding some worthy candidates who are capable of changing the ruling party’s equations.
Congress declared its first list of candidates and in the political circles most of these candidates are considered as strong contenders. The alacrity and alertness shown by selectors in constituting this lot is the evidence of how the Opposition is devising strategy to take on the ruling party which is perhaps suffering from slothfulness from selection round itself. Also remarkable is the unanimity or cravings of both factions in staking claims that these men are their own.
Notably, former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi’s faction on Friday itself revealed that out of 17 candidates announced by Congress so far, at least one dozen was his camp follower even if the reality shows something else. The fact is that once a Jogi camp follower Manoj Mandawi had also developed his connection with the establishment faction resulting in there was hardly any problem he is encountering of bagging the ticket for Bhanupratappur seat. Out of the 17 candidates announced in first slot, 12 are new faces and according to sources they had also proved their worth in the five surveys conducted and succeeded in getting the party ticket without backing of any senior leader.
According to sources, in selection of candidates for Bastar, national spokesman, AICC secretary and incharge of Chhattisgarh Bhakta Charandas played crucial role. He was reportedly in touch of ticket seekers for quite some time, he also keenly studied the caste equation in every seat of Bastar and only then submitted his report to the high command and the result came as Shamuram kashyap, likely to prove a dark horse on Jagdalpur general seat.
Kashyap is not an Adiwasi but a member of Mahara caste which has nearly 1.5 lakh population around Jagdalpur. Not only Jagdalpur, Mahara community is in decisive position in Narayanpur and Chitrakote Assembly constituencies as well. With his selection Congress will gain not only in jagdalpur Constituency but also in narayanpur and Chitrakote
Selection of Shankarlal Dhruva is also not less surprising. His relative Shyama Dhruva was a BJP legislator but she changed her loyalty and joined Congress during Ajit Jogi regime. Her son Chandrakanta Dhruva was also in ticket race. On the other hand, Shankarlal Dhruva nevel changed party and remained loyal to Congress working honestly for the party all these years. He is considered as clean image leader. This is why no one had objection to his selection.
According to party sources, from the NSUI quota two persons have been given party ticket recommendation for which was made by Rahul Gandhi in which Deepak Bainj from Chitrakote and Daleshwar Sahu from Dongargaon are included. Two more names will come in the second list. From Bijapur, Vikram Mandavi has been given ticket. Mandawi was one of the selected leaders who took part in Salwa Judum movement actively. He is also a member of District panchayat.
likewise, from Narayanpur seat after overlooking the candidature of formar MlA Anturam Kashyap, chandan Kashyap has been preferred. Chandan is related to establishment faction and has a good following among youths. From Keshkal seat too selection of Santram Netam has been done after much consideration. From here former MlA Foolo Devi Netam was in race but Santram was considered as strong candidate. From Bastar lakheshwar Baghel, from Antagarh manturam pawar and from Kondagaon Mohan Markam have been made party candidates.
Even after losing elections, Manturam and Mohan Madkam were much active in their constituencies which earned them ticket. Former minister Shankar Sidi had also staked claim for party ticket but on the basis of better prospect Mohan was given the ticket. Decision of giving party tickets to Umesh Patel from Kharasia, Alka Mudliyar from Rajnandgaon, Devti Karma from Dantewada was made by Congress president Sonia Gandhi just after Jeeram massacre in which Nand Kumar Patel, Uday Mudliyar and Mahendra Karma were gunned down by rebels.
Though the name of Rajnandgaon Mayor Naresh Dakalia was also doing the round but his candidature was overlooked. From Khairagarh seat former MP Deovrat Singh was claiming the ticket but Girwar Janghel was made the candidate. The most surprising selection was from Mohla Manpur seat from where sitting MlA Shivraj Singh Usare’s ticket was cut despite the fact that all senior leaders were unanimous for repeating him. But the survey report went against him.
Notably during the last Assembly elections, out of 12 seats (one general and 11 Scheduled caste) single ST seat of Konta fell in to the kitty of Congress. In Rajnandgaon having six Assembly constituencies (four general, one ST and on Scheduled Caste) two seats are held by Congress while BJP has for MlAs from the district including Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh.
But this time party leaders are claiming to reverse the trend on these seats going to polls in the first phase and are very crucial for the ruling party. Even a slight deviation will turn the Saffron apple-cart.