The day of judgement has finally come as leaders, party cadres and even people were holding on their breath for Sunday’s vote count for the 90-member State legislative Assembly which would decide whether Raman raj would continue or the State would see return of the Congress rule.
The BJP which has been ruling the mineral-rich State since December 2003, claimed that it was poised to register the third successive victory riding on the popularity wave of Chief Minister Raman Singh. On the other hand, the Congress has rejected all exit poll outcomes favouring the BJP in Chhattisgarh, and said ‘a change in regime is in the offing in the State’.
Raman Singh who claimed this week that BJP would surprise analysts and psephologists with ‘the highest ever number of seats’, will track the election results on TV screen at his official residence right from early morning on Sunday along with a selected band of his key aides besides his son Abhishek Singh. The BJP has asked its party MPs and district unit chiefs to station at polling centres in their respective areas along with party's legal cell office-bearers to monitor counting.
BJP national joint general secretary (organisation), Saudan Singh and BJP national general secretary JP Nadda who is party in-charge for Chhattisgarh, will remain in touch with party candidates directly from counting centres to know updates. The BJP leaders are of the firm view that party would settle around 50 seats in a 90-member house for close to 80 per cent overall polling was recorded in two-phased polls held on November 11 and November 19.
Party sources said that like two previous elections — in 2003 and 2008 — tribal stronghold Bastar region holds the key and the party needs to repeat its 2008 performance in Bastar. The BJP had bagged 11 out of the total 12 seats in Bastar in 2008 polls. Meanwhile, the Congress leaders have been outrightly rejecting all exit poll outcomes. The party leaders have said that they have solid inputs from urban as well as from rural belts that high voters turnout is one-sided in favour of the Congress.
“Wait till afternoon and everything will get crystal clear, no one can stop the Congress from coming back to power,” remarked former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, whose wife and son’s political career will also depend much on Sunday’s verdict. Jogi’s son Amit Jogi is launching his political career from Marwahi seat while spouse Renu Jogi is seeking re-election from Kota.
Political analysts say that Congress will see a serious rivalry among its key leaders in the State for Chief Minister’s post if party is voted to power.