Chhattisgarh polls: BJP wins just one seat in Sahu-dominated areas

CRPF personnel help an elderly voter reach a polling station for casting her vote during the first phase of Assembly elections in Sukma district Chhattisgarh - Nov 12 2018 (Image- PTI)

In the recently-concluded Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, the BJP suffered a huge setback in the constituencies that have a significant population of the Sahu community, a dominant OBC community in the state.

The Congress' "attractive" promises like farm loan waiver, bonus against paddy procurement, apparently prompted this agrarian community to vote in favour of the party.

Although the BJP had fielded 14 candidates belonging to the community, all of them, barring one, bit the dust.

Ranjana Dipendra Sahu is the only BJP candidate from the community, who emerged as the winner. A newcomer, she wrested Dhamtari seat from Congress' sitting MLA Gurumukh Singh Hora.

Prominent among other Sahu community candidates from the saffron party who lost the polls are senior leader Chandrashekhar Sahu (Abhanpur constituency) and sitting MLAs Ashok Sahu (Kawardha) and Tokhan Sahu (Lormi).

Kashiram Ram Sahu (Kota), Megharam Sahu (Shakti), Kailash Sahu (Jaijaipur), Monika Sahu (Khallari), Nandkumar Sahu (Raipur Rural), Pawan Sahu (Sanjari-Balod), Dipak Tarachand Sahu (Gunderdehi), Motilal Sahu (Patan), Jageshwar Sahu (Durg Rural) and Hirendra Sahu (Khujji) were other BJP nominees from the community, who failed to make it.

An influential OBC community, Sahus account for 16 per cent of the state's 2.5 crore population. Its members, largely settled in the plains, are mostly farmers, while some of them are also in trade.

"After the Congress released its manifesto, it created a major wave in its favour. Attractive promises of loan waiver, minimum support price of Rs 2,500 for per quintal of paddy and a bonus against paddy procurement were hard to be ignored by farmers, not only of Sahu community, but others as well," said Rakesh Sahu, vice president of Chhattisgarh Sahu Sangh's youth wing.

"We don't have issues with any party in particular. We only want welfare of the state and its people," he added.

Another office-bearer of the association, who did not want to be named, said an undercurrent of support for Congress leader Tamradhwaj Sahu, considered to be one of the contenders for chief minister's post, also helped the party.

Tamradhwaj Sahu, who is a Durg MP, won the Assembly election from Durg Rural seat.

Four other Sahu candidates fielded by the Congress- Shakuntala Sahu (Kasdol seat), Dhanendra Sahu (Abhanpur), Tamrdhwaj Sahu (Durg Rural), Daleshwar Sahu (Dongargaon) and Channi Chandu Sahu (Khujji)- also won the polls.

The Congress has registered a landslide victory in Chhattisgarh winning 68 seats in the 90-member assembly and dislodging the BJP from power after 15 years.

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