Despite A Modi Wave, BJP Lost Bastar In 2019, A Stronghold Since '98 — It Hopes To Win It Back This Time

Bastar, the southernmost Lok Sabha constituency in the state of Chhattisgarh is going to polls on April 19 in the first phase of general elections 2024.

Apart from Rajnandgaon where former Congress Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is contesting from, Bastar is another constituency that will possibly see a tight contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress.

Since 1998, Bastar has been a stronghold of the BJP as Baliram Kashyap — known as Balasaheb Thackeray of Chhattisgarh — was elected MP four times in a row till his death in 2011. Post that, his son Dinesh Kashyap continued his legacy and maintained the momentum till 2019 when he was denied a ticket.

In 2019, BJP's Baidu Ram Kashyap lost the election to Congress' Deepak Baij, who pulled off a surprise victory in Bastar.

Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Bastar, Jagdalpur, Chitrakot, Dantewada, Bijapur and Konta assembly segments come together to form the Bastar Lok Sabha constituency. Halba, Bhatra and Gond tribes are considered to exercise influence over the outcome of the elections in Bastar.

The BJP has announced Mahesh Kashyap — a relatively new face — as its candidate from Bastar this time, while the Congress has asked veteran leader Kawasi Lakhma to contest from the seat.

Lakhma has served as a former Cabinet minister in Chhattisgarh and has been elected from the Konta assembly constituency five times in a row since 2008.

Back in 2013, Lakhma survived a deadly Naxal attack that took place in the Darbha valley. In the attack, more than 30 people were killed and two others were kidnapped by the Naxals. The entire senior leadership of the Congress in the state was wiped out.

Lakhma was spared that fate. This has been discussed by several opposition leaders to question his integrity and even demand a narco test to be conducted on Lakhma.

In the electoral field though, local leaders in Bastar tell Swarajya that it is Lakhma's ability to connect with the voters in unique (almost strange) ways that has helped him win successive elections.

This includes his ability to speak the languages native to the region. "He smokes beedis, drinks country liquor and tries to woo the voters in all strange ways", a political observer close to Lakhma told Swarajya on the condition of anonymity.

This time around, he was reportedly seeking a ticket for his son Harish Kawasi. But locals suggest that the father and son may have had a fallout because of personal issues, and also live separately.

When he was announced as the Congress candidate, in a speech, he took a friendly jibe at the Congress by saying "I am not contesting the elections, Congress party will contest the elections...Why did I get a ticket? I had not asked for one...If it is being insisted, give the ticket to my son. I had asked for a bride (ticket) for my son but they gave the bride (ticket) to me...Today, our country is being sold and our constitution is under threat...".

But all's not well within the Congress in Bastar, as locals suggest there exists a possibility of different factions being unhappy with Lakhma's nomination. Factionalism within the Congress may end up costing them the elections this time, insiders suggest.

Deepak Baij, president of the Chhattisgarh Congress, is reportedly unhappy about being denied the opportunity to contest from Bastar. He is the incumbent MP from Bastar and was seeking a renomination for himself. Known as a humble man, Baij had earlier lost the assembly election in Chitrakot to BJP's Vinayak Goel by a small margin. Now, he has even been denied the Lok Sabha ticket.

Mahendra Karma, a popular tribal leader who was killed in the 2013 Naxal attack, was very influential among the Bastar tribals. His son Chavindra Karma is also reportedly upset over him being denied the ticket this time. He was given a ticket from Dantewada during the 2023 assembly elections but ended up losing to BJP's Chaitram Atami.

The BJP camp

"Bhatra tribe is with the BJP because of Baliram Kashyap. He did a lot of work for the community. It may work in BJP's favour this time as well since the candidate is a Kashyap. Additionally, BJP and Union Home Minister Amit Shah's resolve to fight Naxalism may work for the party, as he has promised to completely wipe out red terror within a few years", a political observer based in Raipur told Swarajya.

The BJP candidate Mahesh Kashyap is contesting Lok Sabha elections for the first time. An active member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal, Mahesh Kashyap has worked in various positions in these organizations. A resident of Gram Kalcha in Jagdalpur block, the 48-year-old Kashyap became the district coordinator of the Bajrang Dal in 1996.

Todat, he heads the Bastar Sanskriti Manch — inspired by the Vishva Hindu Parishad. Kashyap and the BJP had picked up religious conversion as an issue during the previous assembly election and are continuing to raise it even now. Violence broke out between tribals and 'pivoted tribes' last year, as communities living in Bastar started attacking local administration, officials and converted tribes.

A dose of nationalism, anti-Naxal sentiment, anger against forced conversions and factionalism within the Congress party may work in favour of the BJP during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Bastar. Lakhma relatively weak support in Narayanpur and Kondagaon may also work in favour of the BJP. All eyes on 19 April, and then, 4 June.