Bastar, a Scheduled Tribe reserved constituency in Chhattisgarh, holds a pivotal position among the state’s 11 Lok Sabha seats. It is slated for elections on April 19.
The constituency spans various districts, including Bastar, Jagdalpur, Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur, Sukma, and part of Kondagaon district and is a significant electoral hub due to its concentration of tribal populace.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Deepak Baij of the Congress clinched victory with over 4 lakh votes, defeating Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Baidu Ram Kashyap by a margin of 38,982 votes. Despite Baij’s 2019 win, the BJP secured triumph in nine out of the 11 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
In the forthcoming elections, a three-way battle is anticipated, with the BJP fielding Mahesh Kashyap, the Congress nominating Kawasi Lakhma, and the regional Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP) putting forward Tikam Nagvanshi.
Facing significant anti-incumbency sentiment, Lakhma, a six-time MLA, will replace the incumbent MP, Baij, also Pradesh Congress Committee president.
The Congress-BJP battle has been disrupted by the entry of a wildcard Independent, Dr. Prakash Gota, whose candidacy embodies the frustrations and disillusionment felt by many within the Bastar tribal community.
Notably, six polling stations in Bijapur district are reopening after a two-decade hiatus due to Naxal issues. Robust security measures are in place, with around 350 companies of security forces deployed, along with drone surveillance and frequent IAF chopper sorties.
Tribals constitute almost 70 percent of Bastar’s population, and are predominantly divided into Hindu, Christian, and Tribal religious segments. Their collective decision will sway the fate of 12 contesting candidates.
Historical voting trends suggest tribal voters’ enduring allegiance to a single party. With approximately 7 lakh female voters in the constituency, the BJP garnered tribal votes in the last
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