The campaigning for the ensuing general election is hotting up in Bastar area of Chhattisgarh. While the Opposition Congress seems to be ahead in the electioneering race, the ruling BJP was still struggling to announce its candidates. The Congress has announced the names of its candidates for all 12 seats of the region of them nine are new faces.
The Bastar region has its own political history and people were never influenced by state and national political wave. Although the region is tribal populated, caste politics hardly play a role. Candidates who usually manage to maintain a balance between the tribal and non tribal populations always emerge victorious. One of the 12 seats is general, while others are reserved for scheduled caste and scheduled tribe candidates. By introducing as many as nine new faces, the Congress has initiated a tactical move to compel BJP to consider new faces for different seats.
This was one of the reasons many believes, prompted the BJP to delay the announcement of its candidates as it does not want to take risk. The BJP appears to be in a dilemma.If it denies tickets to sitting legislators, it may invite more trouble and face dissidence. There are chances those who don’t get the ticket may contest the election as rebel which will eventually help Congress candidate to win.
If it retains the sitting legislators, the Congress may have an edge and likely to make efforts to en cash the anti-incumbency. For instance, sitting Jagdalpur BJP legislator Santosh Bafna appeared to be a front runner in the electioneering although it was not sure if the party will repeat him.