BJP says party candidate catching up with Jogi

A round of the constituency leaves no one in doubt that the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi enjoys an initial edge over his rivals.

In Marwahi, possessing a bicycle is a necessity and a mobike a status symbol. One can thus not miss when a large number of vehicles buzz past barely dressed tribals who constitute 70 per cent of total voters here. Claims about rapid development of the area amuse them since it has not reached most of them as they continue pulling bullock carts and use oxen to plough their fields still.

These vehicles, most of them covered with the ruling Congress party's flag, do stop, only to ask them to vote for their own 'Mukhya Mantri' (chief minister) and go away convinced that they will. A certain degree of over confidence, bordering arrogance that proximity to power brings along, is visible.

If the numbers of vehicles, posters and banners on display can decide an election then you tend to believe claims of the Congress camp that the December 1 polling is merely to determine if Jogi can increase his margin of 50,000 votes with which he won when he contested a by-election to enter the state assembly two-and-a half years ago.

They are not taking chances either. Money is flowing freely to ensure party workers do not switch sides and the rival Bharatiya Janata Party alleges that plans to purchase votes are already at an implementation stage.

"Banners and posters do not get votes. Congress had the initial advantage, as they knew who their candidate will be and started campaigning a month and a half ago. We came to know about our candidate only on November 17. We are slowly but surely catching up. Instead of matching a poster with poster and banner with a banner, we are reaching out to the voters. We are doing personalised campaigning and have already formed 190 teams for all 190 polling booths," claims an assured Mohan Lal Rai, BJP's Marwahi block president.

According to Rai, Jogi had won by a handsome margin last time round by rigging polls saying official machinery was misused by Jogi and at certain polling stations more votes were cast than voters listed. "The Election Commission is keeping an eye and we are also vigilant. We won't let the Congress party rig polls here this time," says Rai, sitting at the party office, situated diagonally across that of the rivals in the only road that leads one to the hamlet that Marwahi is.

The loyalties of residents and shopkeepers are visibly divided. All houses and shops on the side the BJP office is situated have saffron flags while those on the other side of the road have the Congress party's tricolour. "Election this time is like a lottery. Anyone among the three candidates can win, but I get a feeling Jogi has the upper hand," sums Dhani Ram, a cobbler sitting right outside the local Congress office.

Every one here agrees that it may not be a hands down victory for Jogi as he may have a tough battle at hand. Both his rivals are no push over. The BJP's candidate Nand Kumar Sai is a respected tribal leader. He is Leader of Opposition in the outgoing assembly and is being projected as the BJP's chief ministerial candidate at least in Marwahi. Madam Porte, as widow of Hemwant Porte, the re-nowned tribal leader of his time, also commands tremendous respect from local voters.

The BJP also points out that but for betrayal by its sitting lawmaker who switched sides and vacated the seat for Jogi upon his appointment as the state chief minister, they would have been in a different condition, pointing out they have been traditionally strong here.

With seven days still remaining before campaigning ends and Sai putting his best foot forward by trying to reach every voter personally, elders here say the situation may change. However, right now, it is advantage Jogi with BJP inching closer to him.