In Chhattisgarh, Cong bets big on youth over old guard

Bhopal: Congress has appeared to have chosen youths over established political nam-es while nominating candidates for five out of total 11 seats in Chhattisgarh in the Lok Sabha elections.

The selection of candidates particularly for two Lok Sabha seats in tribal-dominated in Bastar in Chhattigarh has been viewed with significance since the party preferred to bet on two youths, considered emerging leaders in Bastar, ignoring claims of established political leaders of the party in the region.

The party declared the names of candidates for the Bastar (ST), Kanker (ST), Raigarh (ST), Sarguja and Janjgir-Champa LS constituencies on Sunday.

Congress chose two-time MLA Deepak Biaz for the Bastar (ST) seat where families of Mahen-dra Karma, slain in the 2013 Naxal attack in Jeera Ghati in Bastar district, and of Kawasi Lakhma, sitting party MLA from Konta, have been fielded in different elections in the last three decades.

The seat has been held by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the last three decades.

Similarly, the party chose tribal youth leader and chairman of local panchayat body Viresh Thakur for Kanker (ST) seat ignoring the claims of former Union minister Arvind Netam and president of women wing of the party in Chhattisgarh Phooldevi Netam.

In Raigarh too, the party decided to throw its weight behind the youth leader and two-time MLA Laljit Rathia, a Gond tribal, by nominating him for the seat. The party has ignored claims by the Raigarh royal family member Puspadev Singh and veteran leader Rampukar Singh for the seat.

Similarly, in Janjgir-Champa, the party has decided to field youth leader Ravi Bhardwaj sidestepping a couple of senior leaders, claimants for the seat.

In Sarguja, however, the party decided to field Khaleswar Singh, a veteran of three Lok Sabha and three Assembly elections. Chhattisgarh is going to LS polls in three phases beginning on April 11.