Purushottam Patra, Gariaband. As soon as the candidate for Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituency is announced, the contest is looking interesting. This time BJP has made Roop Kumari Choudhary, a woman from OBC category from Basna area, its candidate. Whereas Congress has tried to spoil the game of BJP by making Tamradhwaj Sahu of Sahu community from OBC category as its candidate. As soon as the candidates were decided, resentment in both the parties came out openly. Farmer leader Chandrashekhar Shukla, who was the state general secretary of PCC after making a claim with Congress, gave a shock to the party by leaving Congress. In Congress, when Dhanendra Sahu, who is considered a local contender from the Sahu community, was not given the ticket, his supporters are openly protesting by calling the copper flag a parachute landing. Here, the fire of ignoring four big faces of BJP from Sahu community is also burning from within. Although BJP is in power, it is strict in discipline. In this regard, resentment is not coming out openly.
Congress has more votes than BJP in assembly elections
There are 8 assembly constituencies in this Lok Sabha seat. There are 4-4 MLAs from both the parties. But Congress is ahead in terms of votes. Congress, including Khallari MLA Dwarkadhish, Omkar Sahu of Dhamtari, Janak Dhruv of Bindranwagarh and Chaturinand, MLA from Saraipali, secured a total of 6 lakh 97 thousand 187 votes. Whereas from BJP, Kurud MLA Ajay Chandrakar, Sampat Aggarwal of Basna, Rohit Sahu of Rajim, Yogeshwar of Mahasamund together could get 6 lakh 87 thousand 909 votes. Congress is ahead of BJP by 9 thousand 278 votes.
BJP had fielded Sahu candidate to put brakes on Congress.
From 1957 till now, 18 MPs have been elected from this seat. In which the record of becoming MP maximum 7 times is in the name of powerful leader Vidyacharan Shukla. His popularity was such that he fought the 1989 elections under the banner of Janata Dal and defeated both BJP and Congress. BJP had made Chandrashekhar Sahu its candidate in 1991 to put brakes on Congress. But Congress had capitalized on the popularity of Sant Pawan Diwan. In 1996 also both of them faced each other. This time also Congress benefited. But Chandrashekhar Sahu was successful in defeating Pawan Dewan for the third time in the 1998 elections. Congress kept saving the seat by fielding leaders like Shyama Charan Shukla in 1999 and Ajit Jogi in 2004. But after 2009, Sahu candidate kept waving the BJP flag on Mahasamund seat. In 2009 and 2014, Chandu Lal Sahu became the MP, while in 2019, Chunnilal Sahu became the MP with maximum 50.42 percent votes. This period was considered the period of Modi wave. Therefore, Dhanendra Sahu, who became the candidate from Congress, had to be satisfied with only 43.02 percent votes.
Congress can take advantage of the infighting
After Durg, the biggest vote bank of Sahu community is in Mahasamund Lok Sabha. Sahu community has more influence on these 5 assembly seats Rajim, Dhamtari, Mahasamund, Khallari and Kurud. This time, apart from MP Chunnilal Sahu, two-time MP Chandulal Sahu, former minister Chandrashekhar Sahu, Peethadhishwar Govardhan Sharan Beas of Sirkatti Ashram, who comes from Sahu community, was also a candidate from the Sangh. Ignoring four big faces of the society, this time the party played the card of saluting women. There is also resentment in the society due to this. This is also mentioned in the internal report prepared by Congress. Therefore, by fanning this smoldering fire, Congress may be successful in baking its bread. Now only time will tell whether Congress's confidence will come in handy this time or this time also Congress will have to lose its strong seat due to Modi's guarantee.
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