The Hindu : Front Page : Killing of BJP leaders mars poll campaign

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Monday, Nov 10, 2008
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Front Page

Killing of BJP leaders mars poll campaign

Aarti Dhar

Naxalite menace to be the focus

Electioneering is hardly visible in thick forest villages
Naxalites have asked people to boycott the polls

JAGDALPUR: The brutal killing of the Bharatiya Janata Party Dantewada district vice-president Ramesh Singh Rathore and an associate Surya Prakash Chauhan in broad daylight allegedly by the naxalites during an election rally on Sunday has cast a shadow on an already dull campaign here.

Fearing for their lives, people fled from the villages adjoining the spot where the killings took place in full public view and in the presence of the security personnel.

With BJP leader L.K. Advani and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi scheduled to visit Bastar in the next two days, campaigning was expected to peak here before the region goes to polls on November 14.

Borders sealed

Elections-related activity is visible only in towns along the route between Raipur and Dantewada amidst a thick security cover beginning Kanker, right up to the Andhra Pradesh border.

The borders along Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra have been sealed to prevent the entry of unwanted people who could disrupt the poll process.

While the main contest in the State is between the BJP and the Congress with the Bahujan Samaj Party making its presence felt by contesting all 90 seats, two candidates of the Communist Party of India from Dantewada and Chitrakoot can make a difference in the result outcome.

The BJP has nine seats of the 12 in the Bastar division with all three Assembly segments in Dantewada with the Congress, but the going may not be all that easy this time for the BJP as the Congress and CPI are putting up a tough fight, though it is likely to retain the majority of seats now also.

Inside the villages, there are flags and banners with the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate apparently stealing the show as far as publicity is concerned and a few vehicles blaring campaign slogans, deep down in the thick forest villages, electioneering is hardly visible. It is only the word of mouth that is the most effective tool as the naxalites have banned any such activity and even asked the people to boycott the polls – something that they do every time – but it is unlikely to have any impact on the elections. Bhanupratapur, Antagarh and Narayanpur – totally under the naxal control – have absolutely no sign of electioneering.

The only issue that dominates the polls is that of the naxalites. The voters are sore that the Congress manifesto does not even make a mention of the issue. But what has irked the people is that Rahul Gandhi during his visit to Bastair in April had adopted Jamawada village in Jagdalpur constituency and promised to convert it into a model with where people would have all facilities.

He reportedly constituted a six-member committee for the purpose but nothing has changed.

Sops may work

On the other hand, the BJP government’s Rs.3 a kg. of rice for the below poverty line families – covering 50 per cent of the State’s population – and salt for 25 p per kg will definitely work in its face.

Now, the government also sells kerosene for Rs.9.25 per litre through the public distribution system available at the weekly haats has endeared the party to the huge tribal population as these three measures fulfil their basic needs.

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