In Kharasia, BJP banks on ex- babu

BJP knew it well that it would need no less than a dynamic civil servant like O. P. Choudhury, whose revolutionary idea of establishing education hub in south Bastar’s insurgency- hit Dantewada district has changed lives of hundreds of tribal boys and girls, to dismantle the hitherto unconquered fort of Congress — Kharasia.

And it needed almost year- long persuasion by state BJP leadership to convince Mr Choudhury to dump comforts of a babu and take plunge into politics to take on youth Congress leader Umesh Patel in Kharasia assembly constituency, which is going to polls in the second phase assembly elections on Tuesday.

“My achievements during my service were very satisfying. I have given up a career in civil service to develop my area and do something for people of my area,” Mr Choudhury told people while campaigning.

BJP, too, is trying to send a message that Mr Choudhury is the future leader of Chhattisgarh. He has been treated as a sort of a celebrity in some areas because of being the first IAS officer from the region. Youths have even established “O. P. Choudhury Fan Clubs” in some villages.

The Congress candidate Mr Patel however seemed confident that the constituency would follow the tradition of remaining with the grand- old party this election too.

He was banking on the legacy of his slain father Nand Kumar Patel by reminding people of works done by him and his father for the constituency for the last three decades.