The Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituency, one of the 11 in Chhattisgarh, is a general category seat covering parts of Dhamtari district, and the entirety of Gariyaband and Mahasamund districts. Mahasamund Lok Sabha constituency currently encompasses eight Legislative Assembly segments, namely Saraipali (SC), Basna, Khallari, and Mahasamund in Mahasamund district; Rajim and Bindranawagarh (ST) in Gariyaband district; and Kurud and Dhamtari in Dhamtari district. Voting for the Mahasamund Lok Sabha poll took place on April 26 in the second phase of polls. The counting of votes will take place on June 4.
2019 Result and 2024 Candidate
Chunni Lal Sahu of Bharatiya Janata Party had won the 2019 Lok Sabha election from the Mahasamund seat. He was preceded by Chandu Lal Sahu of BJP.
The candidates in the fray in 2024 Lok Sabha polls are Roop Kumari Choudhary of BJP and Tamradhwaj Sahu of Congress.
Who Stands Where
It is a direct contest between the Congress and the BJP in Mahasamund. The BJP has been holding on to this seat since 2009. While the BJP has fielded a fresh face, the Congress has nominated a much experienced, veteran leader. The two candidates are cordial towards each other, with no sign of campaign aggression.
BJP
Local observers say that Mahasamund remains swept away by the Modi wave and the BJP is headed for a massive victory. The BJP has nominated a fresh face, Roop Kumari Choudhary, who has a non-controversial background. Kumari comes from Basna, where she is expected to get an overwhelming majority of the votes based on her local popularity. In other regions, her campaign efforts are on. Despite ticket denial to the sitting MP, there is no sign of infighting or factionalism, and the party machinery is reportedly working on Choudhary’s campaign with great energy.
Anti-incumbency is not an issue here. In fact, people are pleased with the magnitude of development that has taken place here in recent years and want more of it from the Modi government. The Centre’s welfare schemes are a massive hit, and the state’s Mahtari Vandana Yojana, implemented quickly after the BJP came to power last year, has sealed the deal for many women voters in favour of PM Modi. Under this scheme, all the women of the state are entitled to a sum of Rs 1000 from the government every month.
The Hindutva factor is also strong here, especially owing to the Ram Mandir construction, which finds overwhelming support. The temple’s inauguration was celebrated in nearly every street of Mahasamund.
A large portion of the SC and a considerable portion of the ST community leans towards the BJP. A majority from the BJP-held assembly seats of Basna, Mahasamund, Rajim, and Kurud are also expected to be inclined towards the Modi factor.
Congress
The Congress party has fielded Tamradhwaj Sahu, a veteran leader from the Sahu community and former Home Minister in the Bhupesh Baghel government between 2018 and 2023. Sahu is a well-known and respected leader in the state, who comes from Durg. In 2014, he managed to win the Lok Sabha seat of Durg despite the Modi wave which made him stand out. In 2018, he became an MLA from Durg Gramin seat and went on to serve as Home Minister.
However, his electoral fortunes faded in 2023, when he lost the Durg assembly seat in a tide of anti-incumbency against the Congress government.
Sahu has been campaigning actively in the seat, but local reporters observe that the party’s campaign efforts are lacklustre— failing to draw large crowds and with party workers in a state of disarray. Sahu is also an “outsider” which is a drawback. Even in his own party, the local Congress machinery in Mahasamund is disconnected, displaying a lack of planning and enthusiasm.
Sahu is making efforts to attract Sahu voters, who form approximately 25% of the vote, but has so far not shown signs of much headway.
Meanwhile, the Congress national leadership does not command the same trust or influence as the state leadership. While Sahu, a prominent leader himself, is backed by local Congress MLAs who are also popular in their constituencies, the PM Modi vs Rahul Gandhi factor in the Lok Sabha election, limits their capability of swinging the election in their favour.
Key Issues
Welfare and Development
The welfare schemes of the centre find immense popularity in the region. People are keen on reaping the benefits of Awas Yojana, Mahtari Vandana Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, etc and are vying for a double-engine government that delivers these benefits.
In terms of development, the region has seen enhanced highway connectivity in the districts, improved and widened roadways, enhanced rail connectivity and so on. Insights from local reporters’ hint that there is a sense of relative content among the people with the Modi government, and they desire a status quo, with little sign of anti-incumbency.
Religious Conversion
Religious conversions have become a major bone of contention in the constituency. In the last decade, conversion to Christianity of members of the Hindu community has alarmed the larger society. Some locals allege that under the Baghel government, religious conversions have taken place without a check.
The BJP’s Himanta Biswa Sarma even hit out at the Congress in October last year, when he accused the former Chhattisgarh CM of opening a “big market of religious conversion” to weaken the Hindu religion. This is a major issue dominating tea stall discussions in Mahasamund.
In fact, Mahasamund made the news in 2023, for a massive BJP-backed ‘Ghar Wapsi’ ceremony, where around 1100 converted Christians returned to the Hindu-fold after claiming to have been misled by Christian missionaries on the pretext of financial aid.
Farmers issues
Mahasamund forms part of the central Chhattisgarh region, and also known as the ‘paddy bowl’. Therefore, farmers’ issues dominate this largely rural constituency. Farmers are facing a huge debt problem in the region. They have been demanding higher revenues for their produce.
The recently elected BJP government has commenced purchasing 21 quintals per acre of paddy at ₹3,100 per quintal, fulfilling two commitments outlined in its election manifesto. Additionally, it has disbursed pending bonuses to paddy farmers.
In contrast, the Congress party, despite losing power in 2023 after pledging a higher procurement price and farm loan waiver, is once again emphasising its promise of loan forgiveness.
Unemployment and Inflation
The Congress candidate has been raising the issue of unemployment among the youth and the heightened inflation rate, questioning the centre’s performance on addressing the issues. While this finds resonance among people, it remains to be seen if it can help draw votes for the Congress.
Corruption and Sand Mafia
Allegations of corruption against the former state government emerged as a major issue in the assembly elections. The emergence of the sand mafia, along the Mahanadi and its tributaries, is also a matter of concern to the people. The BJP accuses the previous government of encouraging the sand mafia and has said that it will put curbs on this illegal mining of sand soon.
Voter Demographics
The total number of voters in Mahasamund is 1637002 as per the 2019 data, of which urban voters are 13.4 percent, rural voters are 86.6 percent and the literacy rate stands at 64.16 percent.
Of the total voters 11.4 percent are Scheduled Castes voters while 26 percent are ST voters. In terms of religious composition, Hindu voters account for 86% followed by Muslims (1.5%), Christians (0.37%) and Sikhs (0.19%).
Infrastructure Development
Railways
The state of Chhattisgarh has seen enhanced railway infrastructure in recent years. The new Nagpur-Bilaspur and the Durg-Vishakhapatnam Vande Bharat trains are a success, received well by the people.
Under the Amrit Bharat scheme, the railway station in Mahasamund is expected to undergo a makeover with hi-tech facilities. The stations will be transformed into the central hubs of the city, featuring roof plazas, shopping areas, food courts, children’s play zones, as well as separate entry and exit points for passenger convenience. Additionally, amenities such as multi-level parking, elevators, escalators, travelators, executive lounges, ventilation zones, and facilities catering to the needs of the disabled will be available.
Highway Connectivity
Mahasamund is well-connected with four-lane national highways. Mahasamund is connected by NH53, which passes from Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. This has significantly enhanced connectivity in the region, improved business prospects and it is expected to attract industries to Mahasamund.
Check Lok Sabha Election 2024 Phase 3 Schedule, Key Candidates And Constituencies At News18 Website.
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