Chhattisgarh assembly elections
BASTAR/RAIPUR: The Maoist heartland of Bastar - which in 2008 gave 11 out of 12 seats to BJP - may not be as generous to the party this time as it was five years ago.
The region is bracing up for a tough fight between Congress and the BJP and the fate of both parties depends on the candidates' ability to convert their support base to votes on polling day, November 11.
As the picture emerged at the end of campaigning for the first phase of polling in Chhattisgarh , Bastar may hold the key to power in Raipur that is if North Chhattisgarh throws up results like 2008.
The CPI - which could not mark its presence in the previous poll too is in the reckoning in two or three seats, making it difficult for both BJP and Congress to handle this third force, specifically in constituencies where the naxalites have warned tribals of dire consequences if they vote.
Although the Congress - which won one seat in 2008 - is likely to improve its tally winning five or six of the 12 seats, its lone MLA from this region - Kawasi Lakhma - may find it hard to retain Konta where Maoists have given a poll boycott call. Villagers of Konta (Sukuma district) appear more inclined towards CPI's Manish Kunjam.
Contrary to the perception outside Bastar about Devati Karma - wife of slain Congress leader Mahendra Karma - due to the sympathy factor, she may actually be on a sticky wicket in Dantewada.
The killing of her husband by Maoists got her the Congress ticket and brought this 51-year-old tribal woman to the rough and tumble of politics. But the unpopularity of Karma's son in many Dantewada villages may cost the party dear. Dantewada villagers told TOI that Maoists will not like anyone from Karma's family to get elected and may even try to obstruct the poll process in areas where the slain tribal leaders had a good support base (areas where he had launched Salwa Judum - an anti-Maoist militia).
Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh's goodwill will help BJP win a minimum of six seats, but losing five from this region may turn out to be disastrous for the ruling party if it does not pick up more seats as compared to 2008 in the northern parts of the state.
TOI went to 87 interior villages of six Bastar districts in past five days and found the voters feel indebted to Raman Singh who is popularly known as 'Chawal Wale Baba' for his subsidized rice scheme. But many want "change" arguing that other ruling party netas had not even bothered to visit them in the past five years.
Amid indications that antiincumbency may be a factor in Bastar, a 35-year-old farmer, Sunil Potai of Kishkoda village in Kanker, summed up the mood: "My villagers want change. A new party, if it comes to power, will not stop giving us rice." He said "change" was important as his fellow villagers wanted schools, hospitals and better roads so that they could reach the district town quickly in emergencies.
Many in Gudabear, Charnaad and Jeeram Tai villages of Kanker and Kamta, Hurtarai and Kongra of Antagarh expressed similar sentiments, saying the incumbent MLAs took their votes for granted. Congress leaders hope to win both Kanker and Antagarh. Sensing the popular urge for change, BJP has not fielded its sitting MLAs from these seats.
BJP appears strong in Chitrakot where its sitting MLA Baiduram Kasyap has a good hold over villagers. CPI has fielded a candidate against Kasyap. Narayanpur and Bijapur seats too may also go to the saffron party. In Jagdalpur, popular sentiments seem to be favouring Congress nominee Shyamu Kasyap. Villagers find him accessible. Many say he is one among them. Kasyap's base is in a village - 17km from the district town. The BJP's nominee, sitting MLA Santosh Bafna, is from the urban area.
Twenty-fouryear old Sogam of Jamawada village said: "Shyamu gaon ka neta hai. Bafna to kabhi gaon aata nahin hai (Shyamu is leader of village. Bafna never comes to the village)".
How far these sentiments will get translated into votes will be known on December 8 (counting day). But one thing is certain - BJP cannot take Bastar for granted. The party's best bet Raman Singh may not be able to change the popular perception about his fellow BJP nominees. The tight contest in Bastar this time may see a nail-biting finish in the state ruled by BJP for 10 years.
ON FULL ALERT
Naxalites wanted locals to boycott polls. 77% voters in the 616 villages, 117 forest villages are STs.
Two ITBP jawans injured in an IED blast triggered by Naxals in Rajnandgaon on Sunday.
Security personnel are conducting de-mining and road opening exercise in the region.
Maoists have been mobilizing cadres, assembling and planting IEDs along polling routes and booths, forming small teams to target polling parties and security forces.
Security forces have launched 90 operations since Oct 25 and seized 260 kg of explosives in Chhattisgarh besides arresting 46 Maoists.
EC advanced polling time on Nov 11 from 7am to 3pm.
SECURING ELECTIONS
Para-military and police forces from 10 states deployed 564 companies comprising 56,400 men and women on ground Of 564 companies, 132 CRPF, 116 BSF, 95 CISF, 30 ITBP, 191 Sashastra Seema Bal and Railway Protection Force 93 companies of armed police from 10 different states mobilized..................................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEzLzExLzExI0FyMDEwMDA=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
The region is bracing up for a tough fight between Congress and the BJP and the fate of both parties depends on the candidates' ability to convert their support base to votes on polling day, November 11.
As the picture emerged at the end of campaigning for the first phase of polling in Chhattisgarh , Bastar may hold the key to power in Raipur that is if North Chhattisgarh throws up results like 2008.
The CPI - which could not mark its presence in the previous poll too is in the reckoning in two or three seats, making it difficult for both BJP and Congress to handle this third force, specifically in constituencies where the naxalites have warned tribals of dire consequences if they vote.
Although the Congress - which won one seat in 2008 - is likely to improve its tally winning five or six of the 12 seats, its lone MLA from this region - Kawasi Lakhma - may find it hard to retain Konta where Maoists have given a poll boycott call. Villagers of Konta (Sukuma district) appear more inclined towards CPI's Manish Kunjam.
Contrary to the perception outside Bastar about Devati Karma - wife of slain Congress leader Mahendra Karma - due to the sympathy factor, she may actually be on a sticky wicket in Dantewada.
The killing of her husband by Maoists got her the Congress ticket and brought this 51-year-old tribal woman to the rough and tumble of politics. But the unpopularity of Karma's son in many Dantewada villages may cost the party dear. Dantewada villagers told TOI that Maoists will not like anyone from Karma's family to get elected and may even try to obstruct the poll process in areas where the slain tribal leaders had a good support base (areas where he had launched Salwa Judum - an anti-Maoist militia).
Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh's goodwill will help BJP win a minimum of six seats, but losing five from this region may turn out to be disastrous for the ruling party if it does not pick up more seats as compared to 2008 in the northern parts of the state.
TOI went to 87 interior villages of six Bastar districts in past five days and found the voters feel indebted to Raman Singh who is popularly known as 'Chawal Wale Baba' for his subsidized rice scheme. But many want "change" arguing that other ruling party netas had not even bothered to visit them in the past five years.
Amid indications that antiincumbency may be a factor in Bastar, a 35-year-old farmer, Sunil Potai of Kishkoda village in Kanker, summed up the mood: "My villagers want change. A new party, if it comes to power, will not stop giving us rice." He said "change" was important as his fellow villagers wanted schools, hospitals and better roads so that they could reach the district town quickly in emergencies.
Many in Gudabear, Charnaad and Jeeram Tai villages of Kanker and Kamta, Hurtarai and Kongra of Antagarh expressed similar sentiments, saying the incumbent MLAs took their votes for granted. Congress leaders hope to win both Kanker and Antagarh. Sensing the popular urge for change, BJP has not fielded its sitting MLAs from these seats.
BJP appears strong in Chitrakot where its sitting MLA Baiduram Kasyap has a good hold over villagers. CPI has fielded a candidate against Kasyap. Narayanpur and Bijapur seats too may also go to the saffron party. In Jagdalpur, popular sentiments seem to be favouring Congress nominee Shyamu Kasyap. Villagers find him accessible. Many say he is one among them. Kasyap's base is in a village - 17km from the district town. The BJP's nominee, sitting MLA Santosh Bafna, is from the urban area.
Twenty-fouryear old Sogam of Jamawada village said: "Shyamu gaon ka neta hai. Bafna to kabhi gaon aata nahin hai (Shyamu is leader of village. Bafna never comes to the village)".
How far these sentiments will get translated into votes will be known on December 8 (counting day). But one thing is certain - BJP cannot take Bastar for granted. The party's best bet Raman Singh may not be able to change the popular perception about his fellow BJP nominees. The tight contest in Bastar this time may see a nail-biting finish in the state ruled by BJP for 10 years.
ON FULL ALERT
Naxalites wanted locals to boycott polls. 77% voters in the 616 villages, 117 forest villages are STs.
Two ITBP jawans injured in an IED blast triggered by Naxals in Rajnandgaon on Sunday.
Security personnel are conducting de-mining and road opening exercise in the region.
Maoists have been mobilizing cadres, assembling and planting IEDs along polling routes and booths, forming small teams to target polling parties and security forces.
Security forces have launched 90 operations since Oct 25 and seized 260 kg of explosives in Chhattisgarh besides arresting 46 Maoists.
EC advanced polling time on Nov 11 from 7am to 3pm.
SECURING ELECTIONS
Para-military and police forces from 10 states deployed 564 companies comprising 56,400 men and women on ground Of 564 companies, 132 CRPF, 116 BSF, 95 CISF, 30 ITBP, 191 Sashastra Seema Bal and Railway Protection Force 93 companies of armed police from 10 different states mobilized..................................http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=VE9JTS8yMDEzLzExLzExI0FyMDEwMDA=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-custom
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