77 candidates with crime cases contested in 2008, 11 won
Raipur, October 17
In the backdrop of high-voltage drama in national capital with Supreme Court asking the Centre to disqualify convicted lawmakers by making a law while the latter refusing to do so and rather brining an ordinance to protect tainted elected representatives only to buckle down before scathing remarks of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi and withdrawing the ordinance, it is less likely that the political parties in Chhattisgarh will take any lesson from this episode as they indicate of having no qualms in distributing tickets to candidates with criminal background, provided they assure of their victory.
In 2008, the political parties had fielded 77 candidates (9% of the total candidates in fray) with crime cases of which 11 (13% of the total winners) got public mandate in 90-member Chhattisgarh legislative assembly.
Among 77 candidates, 23 belonged to BJP (13) and Congress (10). The remaining candidates were from different parties including SHS – 9, BSP – 4, SP – 3, CPI – 4, JMM – 3, CGVP – 5, GGP – 4, CVKP – 1, GMS – 1, CPM – 1, NCP – 1, RPI(A) – 1, ABHM – 1, BJHS – 1, JD(U) – 1 and CMM – 1. Besides, 13 independent with criminal record too were in fray.
Of the total convicted candidates, 40 were facing grave charges like murder under Indian Penal Code.
Among the winners, six were from BJP and five from Congress. Interestingly, four each of the BJP and Congress were facing had serious charges against them.
The winners from BJP were Yuddhveer Singh Judeo - Chandrapur, Renuka Singh - Premnagar, Mahesh Gagda - Bijapur, Devjibhai Patel - Dharsiva, Bhima Mandavi - Kondagaon and Bhaiyalal Rajwade – Baikunthpur. The ruling party rewarded Judeo and Gagda by making them parliamentary affairs secretary while Patel became charmain of Chhattisgarh Beverage Corporation.
The BJP sources say that the party would not take risk in denying ticket to candidates like Yuddhveer singh Judeo, who is son of late MP from Bilaspur Dilip Singh Judeo, as he not only belongs to royal family but has large number of supporters in Jashpur belt.
The party, however, is upset with Renuka Singh who had recently adopted caustic tone against the government for inducting her in the system as a minister or head of any corporation or board. On the other hand, the party is scanning the performances of Bhiayalal Rajwade, Mahesh Gadga and Bhima Mandavi as they had spent very less time in their respective constituencies.
Another tainted winner Devjibhai Patel too is facing resistance from own partymen in his constituency for not carrying any development work there.
The winners from Congress were former CM Ajit Jogi – Marwahi, Dr Shakrajeet Nayak – Raigarh, Jai Singh Agrawal – Korba, Kawasi Lakhma – Konta and Paresh Bagbahra – Khallari.
In Chhattisgarh, Ajit Jogi represents Congress. He is close to high command and is member of Congress working Committee. In state, he has massive support. After May 25 naxal incident in Darbha region under Bastar, Jogi came into limelight as not only the BJP but the opponent in his own party were surmising of his involvement in the gruesome episode that killed over 30 Congress leaders. Since the recent past, the party supremo had maintained distance from him. It was rumoured that annoyed of being alienated, Jogi might float a new party before polls or he would be expelled due to his parallel party activities. However, nothing happened and he is again a strong contender from Marwahi, his bastion.
Among the other Congress candidates, Konta MLA Kawasi Lakhma had already got ticket while the party is still brooding whether to repeat Paresh Baghbahra, Dr Shakrajeet Nayak and Jai Singh Agrawal or not. While Baghbahra is said to have demanded cash from own party candidate to field him in civic body by-poll under Khallari assembly constituency, Nayak and Agrawal have reportedly lost trust of local partymen for not being active in their areas.
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