Ahead of assembly polls in Chhattisgarh, where voting is scheduled on November 12 and 20, has become a triangular contest and various Naxal hit areas are considered as key to the election outcome. Bastar, Sarguja, Bijapur and Korba are the most affected areas and considered as Red corridor of state.
All three main contenders Janta Congress Chhattisgarh, Bhartiya Janta Party and Congress are much focused towards Naxal segments.
As per the sources, Naxal prone areas have always favoured only a single party in the previous elections, either its BJP or Congress. However, Janta Congress Chhattisgarh is expected to play a crucial role within the red corridor.
Bastar, which is the most affected Naxal area in the state, has favoured Congress in 2013, where party managed a comfortable win on 8 constituencies. However, BJP has been seen very vocal on issues related to tribal and Maoists. And the recent move by PM Modi to start airways services from Raipur to Jagdalpur was a crucial step to woo tribal voters of Naxal prone areas. Interestingly, Bastar’s Chitrakoot and Dantewada constituencies had witnessed maximum number of NOTAs, due to Maoists pressure, sources claimed.
Similarly, Bijapur and Korba are also worst affected districts due to Maoists activities, where peaceful polling could be a tough task for police, as Maoists have already declared to boycott elections.
During the 2008 assembly election, BJP won 11 out of 12 constituencies in Bastar region. To maintain results like 2008 assembly polls, Amit Shah is visiting Chhattisgarh aggressively and holding meetings with party leaders and mainly targeting on tribal voters.
Sarguja and Bhilai region, which is mainly comprised of the working class, has a big impact of Maoists ideologies within the locals. Communist Party of India (CPI) is the main political outfit in that area. Ajit Jogi, who was with Congress during 2003, 2008 and 2013 assembly polls, is also strengthening its roots in Naxal prone areas and his recent collaboration with CPI is a masterstroke, sources claimed.
Aam Aadmi Party, which is making his debut in Chhattisgarh elections, has already declared that party will project a tribal chief minister if voted to power.
According to experts, every single party in Chhattisgarh is trying to woo tribal voters of Naxal prone areas, as tribal voters comprise 32% of voters of total 2.5 crores of the state.
Related:
Chhattisgarh Polls: Ajit Jogi’s wife Renu Jogi likely to join Janta Congress Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh Assembly Polls 2018: State to witness a triangular contest for the first time
