Denied ticket,rebel MP queers the pitch for BJP

Considered the laboratory of OBC politics in the state,Durg is now facing a contest between BJP national secretary Saroj Pandey,Congress nominee Pradeep Choubey and Tarachand,who is in the race as an Independent. The BSP has also fielded a candidate with an eye on the Sahu community votes.

As OBC Sahu and Kurmi and Scheduled Caste Satnami communities constitute nearly half of the 16,20,975 electorate,Tarachand is trying to make a major dent in the vote share of the BJP. His supporters are raising slogans like “Sahu-Kurmi Bhai,Bhai”.

“Tarachand is raking up the issue of locals not getting jobs in Bhilai Steel Plant. Why has he remained silent over this as an MP since 1996?” asks Chief Minister Raman Singh,adding that “politics here is bipolar in nature”.

BJP candidate Saroj Pandey’s aggressive electioneering is visible in the entire constituency with posters,banners and huge cut-outs flooding all important locations.

In an attempt to prevent erosion of its support base in the Sahu community,the BJP has spread word that if Pandey wins the elections,the party will nominate a Sahu to contest the Assembly by-election from Vaishalinagar,being represented by her at present.

Apart from its traditional support base,the Congress hopes to fish in troubled waters and is calculating that presence of a four-time MP in the fray as an Independent would split the BJP votes. Still,Pradeep Choubey is not taking any chances and is on an intensive village-to-village campaign drive.

None of the contenders knows how the majority OBC community,mainly the Sahus and Kurmis,will vote this time when candidates from the mainstream parties don’t belong to their communities. “Whether they stick to party line or vote otherwise cannot be predicted. At least in Chhattisgarh,OBC communities had never exercised their franchise as a block. If they do so,the OBCs,who form 51 per cent of the population,could change the political picture,” a Congress leader said.