Assembly elections are to be held in Chhattisgarh next month. Maoists in the state have called for a boycott of the elections. In which the spokesperson of ‘South Sub-Zonal Bureau’ has asked people to ‘drive out’ the BJP candidates and oppose the Congress candidates. In Maoist-affected Bastar, the first phase of voting is on November 7 and the second phase of voting is to be held on November 17.
Maoist spokesperson Samta has accused both the Congress and the BJP of ‘caving to corporate houses’, ‘promoting communal and religious hatred’ and exploiting tribals in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Odisha. Maoists have blamed PM Narendra Modi and his government for inflation and unemployment. Recalling the massacre of villages in Silger, the Maoists said, ‘After coming to power in Chhattisgarh, Congress started following the BJP’s path and misled people with attractive names of schemes like ‘Garhbo Nava Chhattisgarh’.
Tribal BJP worker shot
Birju Taram, a prominent tribal leader and BJP worker, was shot dead in Chhattisgarh’s Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district. Maoist involvement is suspected, but locals believe that a local miscreant who clashed with Taram may be responsible. Taram was killed after returning home from a public rally led by former chief minister Raman Singh. Local people and family members believe that he was targeted because he worshiped Goddess Durga. BJP leaders have expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Chhattisgarh and demanded action against the accused.
Two Maoists killed in encounter before elections
Two Maoists were killed in an encounter with security forces in the forests of Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district, just two weeks before elections in the district. Security forces, including the District Reserve Guard and Border Security Force (BSF), were conducting a search operation when the Maoists started firing. Ultimately the Maoists retreated leaving behind the bodies of their comrades. Police have recovered weapons and explosives from the spot. The search operation is still going on. Voting will be held in three assembly constituencies of Kanker district in the first phase of elections.