The Bharatiya Janata Party, which has been in power in Chhattisgarh for 15 consecutive years, is trying hard to make a comeback in 2023. BJP has put all its strength especially in Bastar and Surguja. The focus of the top leadership of BJP is on zero land i.e. those areas where the party did not get seats in the 2018 assembly elections. BJP is taking out ‘Parivartan Yatra’ to blossom the lotus in the political barren land of Surguja and Bastar. There are a total of 26 assembly seats in both the divisions. It is said that the key to power comes from here. At present there is not a single BJP MLA here.
Less than three months are left for Chhattisgarh Assembly elections. The ruling Congress and the main opposition party BJP have intensified election preparations. While Congress is trying to strengthen its reach among the public by organizing ‘Bharosa Ka Sammelan’ program, Bharatiya Janata Party is ready to take the achievements of Modi government and failures of Bhupesh Sarkar among the public through Parivartan Yatra. Parivartan Yatras are starting from Dantewada in Bastar and Jashpur in Surguja. Union Minister Amit Shah is starting the first phase from Dantewada, while the second phase will be started by BJP National President JP Nadda. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the concluding program of Parivartan Yatra.
Complete plan to surround ‘Baba’ and ‘Kaka’
Congress has a strong government in Chhattisgarh. Out of 90 assembly seats, Congress currently has 71 MLAs, while Bharatiya Janata Party has only 13 MLAs. 3 seats belong to JCCJ and MLA belongs to BSP. There is one seat vacant. TS Singhdev, popularly known as Baba, has a good hold among the people in Surguja area. Before the elections, Congress has also made him Deputy CM. At the same time, BJP has made a strategy to corner Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel (popularly known as Kaka) in his assembly constituency Patan as well as Bastar. BJP’s focus is on zero land seats.
There are a total of 12 seats in Bastar and 14 seats in Surguja division, where BJP was defeated in 2018. BJP has only 2 plans to open its account in this area of the state. First, to count the works of Modi government and second, the work done towards ending the infiltration of Naxalites. Apart from these two plans, how successful the party is in politically attacking Congress and the Baghel government will be revealed only with the results of the elections.
BJP suffered a major setback in the 2018 elections.
In the 2018 assembly elections, BJP suffered a major setback in the tribal areas of the state. The party did not get a single seat in Surguja division. Dantewada was the only seat in Bastar, that too was lost in the by-election. In view of this, BJP has decided to focus on tribal areas. As part of the strategy, the central leadership of BJP is repeatedly visiting Chhattisgarh. It is believed that the key to power in Chhattisgarh lies with the tribal reserved seats, especially in Bastar and Surguja divisions, that is why BJP’s entire emphasis is on these tribal seats.
2989 kilometer journey, 84 meetings, 7 road shows
Chhattisgarh BJP state president Arun Sao is leading the first phase of the Parivartan Yatra. This journey will be of about 1728 km. There will be about 45 general meetings, 32 welcome meetings and 5 road shows in different assembly constituencies. The second phase of Parivartan Yatra will start from Jashpur. BJP national president JP Nadda will flag it off. The second phase of the yatra will be led by Leader of Opposition in Chhattisgarh Assembly Narayan Chandel. The second Parivartan Yatra will be of 1261 kilometers. In the second phase, there will be 39 general meetings, 53 welcome meetings and 2 road shows. Both Parivartan Yatra will conclude on 28th September. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the closing programme. Both journeys will be of approximately 2989 km. BJP leaders from national to state level will participate in the Parivartan Yatra.
Bastar and Surguja special for both parties
BJP is working on a master plan to corner the ruling Congress party in the 2023 assembly elections. BJP has focused most on tribal seats. BJP seems to be in aggressive mode regarding tribal reservation in Chhattisgarh. The party will also try to capitalize on giving a chance to a tribal woman on the highest post like President. Let us tell you that before Parivartan Yatra, state in-charge Om Mathur had made a whirlwind tour of 12 assembly constituencies of Bastar by helicopter. Along with giving the mantra of victory to the workers, he investigated the ground reality. Bastar Fort has special significance for both the parties, hence the leaders of Congress and BJP are engaged in all-round siege of each other.