Cowering? Not BJP

Across the hills and central plains of Chhattisgarh, saffron is the dominant colour a day before the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP, which cap...

Across the hills and central plains of Chhattisgarh, saffron is the dominant colour a day before the Lok Sabha elections. The BJP, which captured power in the state four months ago, is riding a strong Vajpayee wave. And if the promise of a cow — made during the last Assembly elections — doesn’t backfire, the BJP is all set to beat its past records.

Of the 11 Lok Sabha seats, the BJP had managed to win nine in the last elections. This time, there are strong possibilities of larger gains for the party mainly because of the diminishing Congress prospects in the state.

The BJP is banking on the Vajpayee factor to neutralise the negative impact. Though the fear of Naxal violence may hit the voters’ turn-out in the tribal belt , the BJP is expected to do well throughout the region.

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The Congress, which had won only three seats in the 1999 polls, is now finding it tough to hold on to its previous position. Having lost the state Assembly poll, it has not been able to get back on its feet for want of a strong leadership and resources.

What worries the BJP most is its promise to provide a cow to every adivasi family. Unable to implement the promise, besides some other commitments like providing salt at Rs 0.25 per kg, unemployment allowance, waiving of farmers’ loans, the CM has issued ads to reassure the rural voters: ‘‘Atal hai irada, vada hum nibhayege, adivasi parivar ko gaye dilayenge.”

rime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the gathering during the inauguration of the PM MITRA Park and foundation stone laying ceremony of development works, in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. (@NarendraModi via PTI Photo)

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