Chhattisgarh elections: BJP and Congress face revolt over election lists

RAIPUR: Both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress are facing protests by disappointed supporters of leaders, who have not made it to the lists of poll candidates in Chhattisgarh.

While the BJP has declared 78 candidates so far, the Congress has announced its list for 18 seats only. Chhattisgarh will have polling on November 12 and 20.

Protests and dissensions by resentful supporters of various BJP leaders from nearly a dozen constituencies are taking place in front of 'Ekatma Parisar', the state headquarter of the ruling party. The disgruntled party cadres are demanding a change in the list of candidates announced by the party a few days ago in Delhi.

Not that the Congress is faring better. There has been a demonstration in the presence of the state party-incharge P L Punia and senior leaders at the party state office 'Rajiv Bhawan' in Raipur.

There are around 20-odd candidates, either rebels or Independents, who have filed their nominations for 12 seats of Bastar.

In Rajnandgaon, anger prevails against the BJP in four of the six seats though it claims that it is internal democracy of the BJP that led to the party cadres speak of their grievances. The ruling party is looking for a target of winning 65 seats in the 90-member Assembly.

In an attempt to rein-in the rising anger, the BJP decided to incorporate such leaders in the party election campaign committee. As many as 149 leaders have been included so far in the panel.

"I and senior leaders are in talks with those upset with the party's list. There are at least three-four potential candidates from almost every assembly segment. Everyone can't be given a ticket. Our cadre understands this since there is a strong internal democracy. The issue will be sorted out soon," Chief Minister Raman Singh said.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leaders are holding sessions to finalise their candidates for the remaining 72 seats. Voices of dissents have emerged from three seats. "We hope to end the final process of selection in a day or two," said Leader of the Opposition T S Singhdeo, who ruled out such large magnitude of dissension and revolt as seen in the case of the BJP. "Names are received and approved after taking feedback from the grassroot and block levels," he added.