BJP's dismal performance in Chhattisgarh is shocking, not surprising. They did not expect they would get only 15 seats, (recognition for 15 years of uninterrupted rule), an all time low.
Worse, they polled 31 per cent of valid votes against over 46 per cent by the Congress, all time high. They too would listen to qualms of conscience and they will ponder why 95 per cen of Cabinet colleagues of a visibly humble Chief Minister Raman Singh lost.
Weeks before elections, all sections of people, including businessmen and industrialists, professors have been telling me there was wave of change (pariwartan lahar), which the policy planners of BJP too must have noticed. BKSRay, a retired IAS (1972) had repeatedly written" the corrupt and anti-people government is being thrown out".
The RSS led by Saudan Singh, had been active since long, played an active role in selection of candidates to campaign. He had been staying at Raipur since 2003 elections and got credit for subsequent victories of the BJP. We remember the Vanwasi Kalyan Kendra's were active in Bastar, RSS activists campaigned on cycles, the then union minister of state for home camped in Bastar, central paramlitary forces and Punjab police conducted polls when Gen KM Sheth was Governor. Late BJP leader Dilip Singh Judeo had his influence through ghar wapsi movement. But.now, BJP lost miserably in Bastar (1/12), wiped out in Jashpur, Koriya, Raigarh, Surguja and even in the plains of Raipur (1/12).
BJP Government was dependent on certain sections of bureaucrats to run the government and the party. They have now become scapegoats.
Arrogance of unbridled Power, money was definitely reflected in actions and talks of civil servants and ministers of the polite Raman Singh. Massive mandate against BJP leads to end of 15 years long political Rs Vanvas’ of Congress.
Former minister in BJP government and state’s seasoned politician Brijmohan Agarwal was right in admitting it was storm (Aandhi) against BJP.
(The writer is a senior journalist who worked in several states including Chhattisgarh. The views expressed by him in the article are his personal)
