WILL RAMAN SINGH SECURE A THIRD TERM IN CHHATTISGARH? HOW IS THE CONGRESS PARTY COUNTERING HIS CAMPAIGN?

Written by Hemendra Jha November 3, 2013 Congress has been out of power in Chhattisgarh for the last decade. The group is making strategic measures to gain an advantage against the governing BJP in the state. Raman Singh’s pro-poor policies have made him a favorite among political analysts to win a third straight term as Chief Minister. Chhattisgarh has emerged as an exemplary state for food security, providing rice at affordable prices to 35 lakh households. Raman Singh has enhanced his reputation as a chief minister by working alongside the effective public distribution system. His adept political strategies in managing the narco CD case and countering the sympathy for the Congress party after the naxal assault, which resulted in the deaths of two key leaders and others in May this year, are commendable. Dr. Raman Singh has submitted his candidacy from the Rajnandgaon constituency, since no contender has successfully secured this assembly seat for two consecutive terms. Can he reverse this pattern this time, in a state where internal conflicts within the congress are seen to be the main reason why the BJP won in 2008? The tribal-dominated Bastar area, which has 12 out of the total 90 assembly seats, is now under close scrutiny. No political party has achieved a majority in the state without winning a significant number of seats in Bastar. The Chhattisgarh area is consistently endangered by Naxals, prompting the deployment of more than 40,000 security forces by the central government for the next state elections. The BJP is expected to win barely 5-6 seats in this area owing to the anti-incumbency factor. The left-wing parties, CPI and CPM, are likely to gain influence in this area by securing a few seats. Congress is expected to get a minimum of 4 seats as a result of the sympathy wave after the deaths of its major leaders in the state due to a naxal assault in May this year. Politics in the state has been lacking without the involvement of Ajit Jogi. Renu Jogi and her son Amit Jogi have received tickets to fight, however Ajit Jogi himself has been refused a ticket by the central leadership of the Congress. Ajit Jogi is supported by Satnamis, tribals, and Christians, who make up 51% of the state’s population. There are 9 assemblies mostly controlled by Satnamis. The previous Chief Minister has been excluded to prevent any conflicts with the PCC President Charandas Mahant. We may consider it a temporary truce in the congress’s internal conflicts for the time being.