The recent massive public rally of PM Modi in Kanker was a glimpse into the aspirations of the tribal people.
Have you been to or intend to visit Niagara Falls in America? In both situations, I would like to request that you take the opportunity to see the Chitrakote Waterfalls in the Bastar region of Jagdalpur-Dantewada. It can be called a mini Niagara Falls, which will bring joy. However, there this area is traditionally known as one of the most dangerous Maoist Naxal-affected areas in Bastar. It used to be, but now violence in this region occurs only during gunfights between some extremist groups and security forces. If you create a chart, the number of people killed by gun violence in various cities in the United States will be higher than Bastar. Seeing the massive public rally of PM Narendra Modi in Kanker this time, one can truly glimpse the aspirations and confidence of the tribal people for the future. This issue is not about the electoral victory or defeat of the BJP or Congress; it is about advancing democracy beyond success. Over the past 40 years, as a journalist, I have had the opportunity to travel to Chhattisgarh by bus, jeep, car, plane, and helicopter. The first time, ahead of Jagdalpur, I had the opportunity to talk to a local official in their language at a local market in a village, and it was learned that “a tribal had come from about eight to ten miles away to buy a little salt, so that he could mix it in the chutney of black and red ants. Mahuwa can be consumed by placing it in the leaves”. “And before the previous election, during Raman Singh’s BJP rule, going to Dantewada’s Haat Bazaar felt like the weekly markets that happen on Mondays in Mayur Vihar, Delhi. The tribals, in their traditional attire, enjoy themselves. Women drive rickshaws while selling vegetables, and there are modern schools for children affected by Naxal violence. Seeing the advice centers for selling grains and businesses, Chhattisgarh seems transformed and pleasant.
Chhattisgarh was initially a part of Madhya Pradesh. After the formation of Chhattisgarh in the year 2000, the paths of progress opened up further. The Maoist-Naxal issue is mostly under control, but some areas are affected due to political and legal boundaries.
In the upcoming elections, the main competition will be between the BJP and the Congress. However, the Chhattisgarh Janata Congress with Ajit Jogi, in alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party, will also pose a challenge in this election. On one hand, the BJP is putting in strenuous efforts to return to power, while on the other hand, the Congress is facing the challenge of retaining power. In the 2018 Assembly elections, the Congress won 68 out of 90 seats in the state, securing power after 15 years. In contrast, the BJP, led by former Chief Minister Raman Singh, only managed to win 15 seats. This time, he was not presented as the CM, but he remains a prominent face in the state election campaign alongside Modi. Therefore, the BJP is in the arena with big claims to win more seats and form the government.
Chhattisgarh Pradesh Janata Congress’s state president, Amit Jogi, who is the son of Ajit Jogi, is going to contest the election from the Patan constituency against Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. His nomination has made the Patan seat very intriguing. On the surface, it may seem like a political battle between two parties, but when you delve into it, it appears to be a highly personal fight. In Chhattisgarh, Ajit Jogi and Amit Jogi have been controversial figures from the beginning. The Jogi family has adopted every possible tactic against the leaders of this region, including Shyama Charan Shukla, Vidya Charan Shukla, Motilal Vora, and Raman Singh. Amit Jogi has been involved in a murder case and faced serious allegations of abuse of power. However, he has managed to survive, thanks to the Congress leadership and the support of the Gandhi family.
Amit Jogi, along with his father Ajit Jogi, formed a new party separate from the Congress in 2016. In the 2018 assembly elections, Chhattisgarh Janata Congress allied with the BSP. Ajit Jogi’s party secured five seats, while BSP got two seats. With a significant majority, the Congress government came to power in the state. In 2020, Ajit Jogi passed away. After his demise, his wife Renu Jogi initiated efforts to merge their party with the Congress. These efforts had almost received approval but were stalled due to certain conditions. After the demise of Ajit Jogi, his wife and former Congress leader, Renu Jogi, wanted to merge this party with the Congress. She had been a Congress legislator for a long time. She was in conversation with Sonia Gandhi on this matter. Sonia was not against this merger, but she left the final decision to the state unit. Renu’s relationship with the state unit leaders may not have been very cordial, but it wasn’t adversarial either. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel was against this merger. Under no circumstances did he want the Jogi family to re-enter the Congress. No leader in the state was in favour of this party’s merger, with the sole exception of Amit Jogi. CM Baghel, along with leaders like T.S. Singh Deo, was against this merger. Since Sonia Gandhi was not against this merger, the party leaders did not outright oppose Renu. However, they did lay down a condition before her. Renu Jogi was told that the Congress party would welcome all leaders from Chhattisgarh Janata Congress into the Congress except for Amit Jogi. If she wants to merge the party without Amit, it can be considered. As expected, after this condition was laid out, the merger discussions fell apart. With this, the political rivalry between Bhupesh Baghel and the Jogi family turned into a personal disagreement. Nominating themselves from the Patan seat now appears more personal than political to political pundits. The Patan constituency has now become interesting. Initially, it was a direct contest between Bhupesh Baghel and Vijay Baghel, a BJP Member of Parliament from Durg. Vijay Baghel had defeated Bhupesh in the 2008 elections. Amit Jogi has entered this contest on the last day. His entry has made this competition intriguing. The number of Satnami society voters in the Patan constituency is substantial. Satnami society people have been traditional voters for the Jogis. If a significant number of Satnami society voters support Amit Jogi, it will pose a challenge for Bhupesh Baghel.
The writer is editorial director of ITV Network—India News and Dainik Aaj Samaj.