Voting is now in progress in the Naxal-affected region of Karigundam in Chhattisgarh after a hiatus of 23 years. This area falls within the Dantewada (ST) constituency, which witnessed BJP’s Bhima Mandavi emerging victorious in 2018, despite the Congress sweeping 17 out of the 20 seats that are currently up for election in this phase.
The tragic incident in which Mandavi and four security personnel lost their lives occurred just days before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Their convoy was ambushed by suspected Naxals in the Dantewada district, serving as a stark reminder of the ongoing security challenges in this region.
The polling process in Karigundam is being conducted under the protective vigilance of the CRPF 150 Battalion and District Force. As the election proceedings got underway, voters were seen queuing up outside polling booths in Karigundam, eager to cast their votes in the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections of 2023.
Representing the Congress in this critical electoral battle is Chhavindra Karma, the son of the late Mahendra Karma, who served as a minister in the Congress government and was a former leader of the Sulwa Judum movement. Mahendra Karma met a tragic end in a Naxal attack in the Darbha Valley. His wife also held the position of a two-term legislator.
This election in the Naxal-affected Karigundam area bears significant political and historical significance, and it remains to be seen how the voters’ choices will shape the future of this region and its representation in the Chhattisgarh Assembly.
