Naxal-hit Bastar, which goes to polls tomorrow, is witnessing a stiff political battle with Congress going all out to wrest control from BJP of the region widely seen as a deciding factor in winning Chhattisgarh.
The fact that Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi held two rallies in this tribal dominated region so far- one in Jagdalpur and other in Kanker- while the Congress President Sonia Gandhi held a rally at Kondagaon on Thursday reflects the importance of the region where BJP bagged 11 out of 12 seats in the last assembly.
To woo tribal voters, Congress has promised 32 kg free rice per month to each family living below poverty line. It has vowed to increase the insurance amount for people from unorganised sector to double and has also promised rehabilitation of people affected in the Naxal dominated areas. The party is also banking on "sympathy" votes in view of the May 25 Naxal attack against its leaders and anti-incumbancy factor.
"If one sees Chhattisgarh politics, other regions like Bilaspur, Durg, Raipur mostly have scattered mandate with both the BJP and Congress getting more or less equal number of seats. However, in case of Bastar, the trend is that voters vote for one party," explains Rajesh Tiwari, a local Congress leader and former district president of Bastar.
"In a 90 assembly seats legislature if even 8-10 seats sway in one direction, then it becomes a deciding factor. This is why we see everyone is concentrating on Bastar," he adds.
