Chhattisgarh Assembly Election 2023: The election bugle has sounded in Chhattisgarh. BJP has announced 86 candidates and Congress has announced 30 candidates. After the declaration of the candidate, Saja assembly seat of Bemetra district has become quite high profile. There is a discussion in Saja that what turn will politics take this time? The only question rising on everyone’s lips is that BJP is playing a big gamble by giving ticket to Ishwar Sahu, father of the youth killed in the Biranpur violence. Ishwar Sahu has no political background, but BJP has heated up the political atmosphere by playing the card of radical Hindutva.
BJP has fielded Biranpur violence victim Ishwar Sahu against veteran leader Ravindra Choubey, who has won elections from Saja Assembly 7 times. There is discussion in political circles as to who will prevail over whom? This big question is on everyone’s lips in Saja area because BJP has fielded Ishwar Sahu, a laborer from a very common background. This is perhaps the first time in the political history of Chhattisgarh that an election is being fought completely keeping the poor, victims of communalism, on the front foot. There is a tremendous political atmosphere regarding Saja seat.
What happened in Biranpur of Saja Assembly?
In April 2023, a dispute broke out between two communities in Biranpur of Saja area. After this, Ishwar Sahu’s son Bhuvaneshwar Sahu was killed in the communal violence in the village. The dispute that started as a fight between children had taken the form of violence. Many houses were burnt in the fire. Four days later, a father and son from the minority community were murdered in the village. Curfew remained imposed in Biranpur for a fortnight. The police had arrested dozens of people from both the communities in the case but due to lack of evidence, all were released. It is believed that now BJP is trying to capitalize on this issue by linking it with Hindutva.
Who is Ishwar Sahu?
Ishwar Sahu, who is contesting on BJP ticket from Saja assembly seat, belongs to a laborer and farmer family. Ishwar Sahu, who lives in Biranpur village, has no political background. The only identity of Ishwar Sahu, a very poor and common laborer, is that he is the father of the youth Bhuvaneshwar who was killed in the Biranpur violence. The Chhattisgarh government had announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh and a government job for the family of deceased Bhuvaneshwar Sahu, but the victim’s family refused to accept it, saying that they do not want money and a government job but justice.
Ravindra Choubey is a 7-time MLA from Saja.
Ravindra Choubey, who has won the elections from Saja Assembly 7 times, is counted among the most powerful ministers of the Congress government. Ravindra Choubey, who has been a Cabinet Minister in undivided Madhya Pradesh and Leader of Opposition in Chhattisgarh Assembly, has influence not only in Saja Assembly but in the entire state. Ravindra Choubey, who has been active in politics for almost four decades, has won from Saja Assembly in 1985, 1990, 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2018. He was defeated by Labhchand Bafna in the 2013 assembly elections. This time Ishwar Sahu has been given the ticket in place of Labh Chand Bafna.
How much work will BJP’s Hindutva card do?
How much this Hindutva card of BJP will work will be decided by the public by pressing the EVM button on 17th November, but at present, after the finalization of the names of Ishwar Sahu from BJP and Ravindra Choubey from Congress, a face to face fight has started on this seat. Has occurred. Whatever may be the outcome of Ishwar Sahu’s contest against a veteran like Ravindra Choubey, it is certain that the eyes of the entire state are fixed on this experiment of BJP. Amit Shah has further heated up the political atmosphere by putting Ishwar Sahu in front of the election rally and talking about taking action in the Biranpur case.
Congressmen who have complained to the Election Commission
Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had said during the distribution of BJP tickets that Ishwar Sahu is a purely non-political person. BJP may try hard, but Biranpur issue cannot be there. Deputy CM TS Singhdev has also said that this is an experiment to play with emotions. BJP wants to get sympathy. Congress party has reached the Election Commission regarding Amit Shah’s meeting. Amit Shah is being accused of inciting communal tension.
Report: Sandeep Dewan