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BY HEMENDRA JHA NOVEMBER 3, 2013 Congress is out of power in Chhatisgarh for the last 10 years. It is making coordinated efforts to get an edge over the ruling BJP in the state. Pro-poor policies of Raman Singh has made him the favourite among the political pundits for retaining power in the state for a consecutive third time and will thus retain the chair of CM. Chhatisgarh has proved to become a model state for Food security with 35 lakh families receiving rice at cheap rates. Together with the efficient Public Distribution System, Raman Singh has increased his stature as a Chief Minister. His political masterstrokes to handle the Narco CD case and to neutralize the sympathy wave for Congress after the Naxal attack which killed at least two of its important leaders among several others in May this year are highly appreciable. Dr. Raman Singh has filed his nominations from Rajanandgaon seat given the fact that no candidate has ever won the said assembly seat twice in a row. Will he be able to break this trend from there this time, in a state where it is believed that infighting among Congress is the principal cause why BJP has been able to win in 2008. All eyes are on the tribal dominated Bastar region which has 12 of the total 90 assembly seats. No party has been able to get a majority in the state without sweeping seats in Bastar. This region of Chhatisgarh is in constant threat from Naxals and the centre has already deployed over 40,000 security personnel for the poll bound state. BJP might only win 5-6 seats from this region due to anti incumbency factor. Left parties, CPI, CPM are bound to make inroads in this region by winning a couple of seats. Congress is banking to win at least 4 seats due to the sympathy wave that is being created after the death of its prominent leaders in the state due to Naxal attack in may this year. Politics in the state has been incomplete without the role of Ajit Jogi. His wife Renu Jogi and son Amit Jogi has got tickets to contest but Ajit Jogi himself has been denied a ticket by the central leadership of congress. Ajit Jogi enjoys the support of Satnamis, Tribals and Christians that account for 51% of the population of the state. There are 9 assemblies which are dominated by Satnamis. Former CM has been left out to reduce any frictions between him and PCC president Charandas Mahant. We can assume it to be a ceasefire for the infighting among the Congress for now.
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