Congress will make the stunted development of poverty-hit sprawling Bastar area, despite huge central assistance, an issue in the coming Assembly election besides exposing the misdeeds of the State Government among the tribal folks even as it carefully inched towards finalising the lists of candidates for this region that has 12 assembly seats.
Notably, importance of Bastar in Government formation has increased to such a proportion that Congress is not only giving careful attention to selection of candidates but the vice president and de facto high command Rahul Gandhi wil most probably, himself visit this tribal land to woo the aborigines, who formed the vital part of Congress vote bank till sometimes back.
This was clearly evident from the fact that amid the Congress party high command’s extensive workout for finalising the list of party candidates for the ensuing Assembly election in Chhattisgarh, Konta Constituency MlA Kawasi lakhma was urgently summoned to Delhi by Party Vice President Rahul Gandhi and held talk for 20 minutes one to one Wednesday afternoon.
Notably, Kawasi lakhma is the lone Congress MlA from Bastar division and also the vice-president in Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee. In State politics he is known as blind supporter of former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi and was in limelight for quite some time after he escaped Maoists onslaught in May 25 Jeeram Valley carnage.
After holding talks with Rahul Gandhi, though lakhma refused to divulge the details of talk, he told The Pioneer over phone that the meeting lasted for about 20 to 25 minutes during which the Congress vice president enquired about the status of development in the region as well as shortcomings on the part of the State administration.
To a question regarding selection of candidates, lakhma said that he was too small a leader to comment on this and that it was only the senior leaders’ forte. According to him during his meeting with Rahul Gandhi discussions were also held over the strategies to be adopted for the coming state Assembly elections, but refused to share it with media.
He said that he has invited Rahul Gandhi to visit Bastar which the Congress vice president accepted. According to party sources, ticket to lakhma from Konta and Ms Devti Karma, spouse of Mahendra Karma, who was killed in Jeeram Valley Maoist attack, from Dantewada Assembly constituencies is virtually final.