CPI to contest from 2 ST seats in Chhattisgarh

CPI is all set to field its candidates from two Chhattisgarh constituencies,both reserved for the STs,in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) is all set to field its candidates from two Chhattisgarh constituencies,both reserved for the Scheduled Tribes,in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

“We are geared up to field our candidates for Bastar (ST) and Surguja (ST) seats. The final decision about the candidates are expected to be taken by the party’s two-day national executive meeting beginning in New Delhi on February 21,” CPI leader Chitranjan Bakshi said.

He added that the CPI state unit has recommended fielding Manish Kunjam,who is also Adivasi Mahasabha president,for the Bastar (ST) seat,while the names of Beerbal Tirki and two women candidates were being considered for Surguja (ST) seat.

Kunjam,a former legislator in undivided Madhya Pradesh,has been in the forefront of the campaign against ‘Salwa Judum”,espousing the view that the manner in which the anti-Naxalite movement was being carried out had only precipitated atrocities on innocent tribals,leading to their displacement from villages.

In the November 2008 Assembly polls,he had finished second from Dantewada (ST) constituency,thus outperforming Congress stalwart and the then leader of the Opposition Mahendra Karma,who ended up at the third position.

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