Mahasamund. (11:03): The announcement of candidates for the Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituency has sparked intrigue in the upcoming contest. BJP has nominated Roop Kumari Choudhary, an OBC woman from Basna, while Congress has countered with Tamradhwaj Sahu, also from the OBC community. The candidate selections have stirred resentment within both parties. Farmer leader Chandrashekhar Shukla’s departure from Congress after being denied a ticket has shocked the party. Similarly, Dhanendra Sahu’s exclusion from Congress has led to protests among his supporters. Despite BJP’s disciplined approach, dissatisfaction simmers over the overlooking of prominent faces from the Sahu community.
In the Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituency, Congress holds a lead in votes despite an equal distribution of MLAs between the two parties in the eight assembly constituencies. Congress secured 6,97,187 votes, compared to BJP’s 6,87,909 votes, giving Congress a lead of 9,278 votes.
Historically, BJP has strategically fielded Sahu candidates to counter Congress, with varying success. Notably, Vidyacharan Shukla, a prominent leader, has been elected MP seven times from this seat, showcasing the district’s political dynamics.
Despite Congress’s advantage in the Sahu community, internal conflicts within the party may affect its performance. Congress’s decision to overlook key community leaders has sparked resentment, as highlighted in internal party reports. Leveraging this discontent, Congress aims to capitalize on its support base and challenge BJP’s dominance in the upcoming elections. Whether Congress’s strategy will yield success remains to be seen, as it faces the formidable influence of Modi’s leadership.
