New Delhi, Dec 09: A scheme giving rice to the poor
at Rs two per kg and the pro-development face of Chief
Minister Raman Singh enabled the BJP to win the assembly polls
in Chhattisgarh, overriding any anti-incumbency factor.
The saffron party pulled a surprise by maintaining its
seat tally at 50, the number it had in the outgoing assembly.
Ajit Jogi-led Congress could muster only 38 out of a total of
90 seats. The BSP won two. Congress could only add one more to
its previous strength of 37 seats.
The reasons for BJP's victory are not far to seek. A
clear anti-Naxal stand, positive image of Chief Minister Raman
Singh and his populist scheme of Rs 2 per kg of rice for the
poor helped BJP fight anti-incumbency in tribal dominated
Chhattisgarh.
The party's strategy of fielding new faces also worked to
its advantage although BJP had to face rebellion from those
denied tickets in a number of constituencies. The party also
had to its advantage projection of its chief ministerial
candidate.
On the other hand, the rival Congress looked a divided
house throughout electioneering with names of at least
half-a-dozen Congress leaders doing rounds for the top job in
the eventuality of the party coming back to power.
The Rs 2 per kg scheme seems to have been a hit with a
lot of voters in the poor and tribal dominated state. It
earned Raman Singh the nickname of "Chaur wale Baba" (the
leader who gives us rice). Congress started its campaign by
criticising this policy only to offer rice at Rs 2 later. But
by then it was too late.
On Naxalism, the Congress took a confused stand --
soft-pedalling it most of the time even as the Prime Minister
had termed it a serious threat. The BJP, however, opposed it
strongly and this paid dividends.
Jogi's opposition to Salwa Judum did not find favour with
voters even in Naxal-infested areas. BJP replaced Congress in
the naxal den of Dantewada, the maiden saffron victory there,
by defeating two political stalwarts Congress' Mahendra Karma
and CPI's Manish Kunjam.
Karma was the architect of Salwa Judum but lost to BJP
candidate Bhima Mandavi. Taking an anti-naxal stance did cost
the BJP the lives of two of its activists during the campaign
to a naxal attack but the Raman Singh government had made its
stand clear on the issue.
Jogi's image also seems to have harmed the party. The
Jaggi murder case and other issues affected the Congress'
chances. Raman Singh, on the other hand, was praised even by
some Congress leaders though they accused his ministers of
being corrupt.
Mixed fortune for sr politicians' kin
The kin of senior politicians
cutting across parties had mixed fortune in the Chhattisgarh
assembly elections.
Prominent amongst the relatives who emerged successful
are Amitesh Shukla (Congress), son of veteran leader late S C
Shukla, Yudhvir Singh Judeo (BJP), son of senior saffron
leader Dilipsingh Judeo and Renu Jogi (Cong), wife of former
Chief Minister Ajit Jogi.
The other leading winners in this category are Pratima
Chandrakar (Cong), daughter of senior Congress leader Vasudeo
Chandrakar, Padma Manhar (Cong), daughter-in-law of another
senior Congress leader Kamla Manhar and Rudra Guru (Cong), son
of veteran politician Vijay Guru.
Among those whose family lineage in politics could not
push them through in the electoral battle are Arun Vora, son
of AICC treasurer Motilal Vora, Preeti Netam, daughter of
senior Congress leader Arvind Netam and NCP state president
Nobel Varma, son of veteran Congress leader Bhawanilal Varma.
In contrast, four candidates belonging to the royal
family put up a better show with three of them emerging
successful. They are Yudhvirsingh Judeo, T S Singhdeo and
Devendra Bahadur Singh.
The only loser among those with royal blood is Geetadevi
Singh of Congress.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, December 09, 2008, 00:00