Saturday, Apr 27, 2024 | Last Update : 03:22 AM IST
Revolt in Bastar Tiger’s family
Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) on Wednesday rushed to Dantewada to resolve the issue, sources said.
Bhopal: A revolt is brewing in the family of founder of anti-Naxal civil resistance force Salwa Judum Mahendra Karma, slain in the deadly Maoist ambush on Congress leaders at Jeeram Ghati in Bastar in south Chhattisgarh, over inheritance of his political legacy.
Mahendra Karma’s widow Debti Karma, sitting Congress MLA, and younger son Chavindra Karma were gearing up to seek election from Dantewada (ST) Assembly constituency in Chhattisgarh’s south Bastar region, once considered his turf.
Ms Karma and her son on Wednesday procured nomination forms to contest from Dantewada seat in the coming assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, scheduled to be held in two phases on November 12 and 20.
Debti was elected from Dantewada seat in 2013 assembly elections riding on the sympathy wave following death of her husband known as “Bastar Tiger” for putting up a fight against Naxals in Bastar for two decades despite several attempts on his life made by the ultras when he was alive, by the Maoist attack.
However, Debti’s reported nomination by the party from the seat this time was being opposed tooth and nail by her son, who has decided to seek election from Dantewada as an independent candidate.
“I have been working in the constituency for more than one decade when my father was alive. I am determined to contest form the constituency as an independent candidate, if I am denied ticket by the Congress,” Chavindra, also a Congress leader, was quoted as saying by one of his relations.
Later, Mahendra Karma won elections from Dantewada seat in 2003 assembly polls by defeating his nearest rival Nanda Ram Sori of CPI by over 5000 votes.
Mahendra Karma was however denied Congress ticket in 2008 assembly elections reportedly due to his involvement in Salwa Judum movement, launched in Bastar in 2005.
In 2013, Mahendra Karma’s widow won the seat by defeating her nearest rival Bhimaram Mandavi of ruling BJP by over 5000 votes.
Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) on Wednesday rushed to Dantewada to resolve the issue, sources said.
Bastar division that comprises of 12 Assembly constituencies is going for Assembly elections along with six other adjoining Assembly seats on November 12.
