Chhattisgarh poll issues: Food, sops to farmers

Raipur: Basic issues like food, agriculture, price rise and corruption are gaining predominance over others like governance, terrorism and development in Chhatisgarh, as campaigning intensifies in the first phase of elections.

Unlike earlier perception that issues like terrorism and good governance could be used as the main poll plank, major political parties in the state are trying hard to woo voters with promises like cheap foodgrains, facilities for farm sector and containment of price rise.

With the electoral battle being centered around the two major political parties i.e. Congress and BJP, it is their promises that would decide in which direction the popular vote swings.

In response to the BJP's 35 kilo rice at Rs 3 per kilogram to '36 lakh BPL families' scheme, Congress in its election manifesto has promised to give 35 kg of rice a month at Rs 2 per kg to 'all' except income tax payers.

Similarly, both parties have declared to provide free power to farmers and interest free farm loans if voted to power.

The Congress has already made these promises through its election manifesto but BJP's promises have come from Chief Minister Raman Singh.

Senior BJP functionaries said all these promises would be there in the party's election manifesto, which would be released soon.

Polling for the first phase for 39 seats will be held on November 14.

Former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi remains an election issue, with BJP leadership comparing the Congress leaders' three year regime with the current BJP rule.

To woo its traditional votebank i.e. the minority community, the Congress in its manifesto has come out with a chapter promising implementation of recommendations of the Sacchar Committee and also the Prime Minister's new 15-point programme for development.

Of late, the BJP is also raising the issue of 'attack on Hindus' during the UPA regime.

Taking a cue from other states where acquisition of agricultural land for industrialisation has created large scale dissension among farmers, the Congress has promised to put a cap on land acquisition without farmers' consent and not to allow people from other state to purchase farm land in Chhattisgarh.

Besides, rise in prices of essential commodities and corruption have also come out as a major election issues.