Bastar Lok Sabha Election 2024: Key constituencies and candidates in first phase

In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Bastar Lok Sabha seat was won by Congress

Designated as a Scheduled Tribe reserved constituency, Bastar is one of the 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh, set to go to the polls in the initial phase of the general elections on April 19.

The incumbent of this seat is Deepak Baij of the Indian National Congress, and it holds significance as the heart of Chhattisgarh’s tribal population. With over 14 lakh registered voters, the parliamentary constituency encompasses various districts, including Bastar, Jagdalpur, Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur, Sukma, and a portion of Kondagaon district.

Moreover, it includes eight assembly constituencies, Dantewada (ST), Narayanpur (ST), Bastar (ST), Kondagaon (ST), Chitrakot (ST), Bijapur (ST), Konta (ST), and Jagdalpur. To ensure fair and secure elections, approximately 350 companies of security forces are deployed, alongside drone surveillance and frequent sorties by IAF choppers.

Election Dynamics

The upcoming elections see a three-way contest, with the Bharatiya Janata Party nominating Mahesh Kashyap, the Congress fielding Kawasi Lakhma, and the regional Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP) nominating Tikam Nagvanshi.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Deepak Baij secured victory with over 4 lakh votes, defeating Bharatiya Janata Party’s Baidu Ram Kashyap by a margin of 38,982 votes.

However, despite Baij’s win, the BJP emerged victorious in nine out of eleven Lok Sabha seats in the state. This Lok Sabha constituency has six polling stations in Bijapur district reopening after a two-decade hiatus due to Naxal issues.

Also, establishment of security camps in surrounding areas has facilitated voting access for residents of Pusnar, Bechapal, Palnar, and Galgam after a prolonged absence.

Voters and Candidates

Tribals constitute almost 70 percent of the population in Bastar mostly divided in Hindu, Christians and Tribal religion who will decide the fate of 12 contesting candidates.

Historical voting trends indicate tribal voters’ allegiance to a single party over an extended period. With approximately 7 lakh female voters in the constituency, the BJP secured tribal votes in the last assembly elections, a trend expected to continue.

Deepak Baij, the incumbent MP and Pradesh Congress Committee president, faced significant anti-incumbency sentiment, leading the Congress to replace him with Kawasi Lakhma, a six-time MLA.