Raipur, Dec 04: Aided by anti-incumbency factor and unharmed by Judeo tape episode, the BJP grabbed power from Congress in Chhattisgarah in maiden elections to the 90-member state assembly by securing absolutely majority with 50 seats. With result of all but two seats out, BJP increased its tally from 22 in the outgoing house. Congress has so far got 36 seats, down from 64.
The BSP bagged two seats and led in two while NCP was ahead in one constituency.
Chief Minister Ajit Jogi won from Marwahi defeating Leader of the Opposition Nand Kumar Sai by 54,150 votes but several of his ministerial colleagues including K K Gupta (health), Chaneshram Rathiya (civil supplies) and Gita Devi Singh (child welfare), fell by the wayside.
At the heart of BJP`s impressive show is its deep inroads in the tribal belt of Bastar, a traditional bastion of Congress in undivided Madhya Pradesh, Naxal-infested Sarguja, Durg and Raipur district.
In tribal Bastar district, Congress suffered severe reverses with the BJP bagging four seats out of the total six. Congress, which had won all the six in 1998 in this area, had to be content with just two this time.
Bureau Report