BJP candidate Ojaswi Mandavi files nomination for Dantewada by-poll
| Date :03-Sep-2019 |
Ojaswi Mandavi, the BJP candidate, along with her supporters while filing her first set of nomination papers at Dantewada collectorate.
The Hitavada State Bureau
Dantewada/Raipur
Ojaswi Mandavi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the by-election being held in Dantewada (ST)(88) Assembly constituency, filed her first set of nomination on the auspicious occasion of ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’ on Monday. While the Congress had announced the candidature of Devati Karma from the by-election, the Bharatiya Janata Party had announced the name of Ojaswi Mandavi, wife of Late Bheema Mandavi. On Monday, Mandavi filed her nomination at Dantewada Collectorate. She was accompanied by Chaitram Atami, Kamla Vinay Nag, Munna Markam, Nandlal Mudami and large numbers of local BJP office-bearers and party workers.
It is worth mentioning here that the sitting Dantewada BJP Legislator Bheema Mandavi and the four police personnel were killed on April 8, 2019, in a powerful IED blast triggered by Maoists. The incident took place near Shyamgiri hills falling under Kuwakonda police station limits, situated some 25 kms from the Dantewada district head-quarters. Following the brutal killing of Bheema Mandavi, the Dantewada Assembly seat fell vacant, for which by-election schedule was announced.
It may be recalled that Dantewada was the only Assembly constituency, from where BJP had able to win with a considerable margin in the 2018 Assembly elections, in the Bastar region consisting of 7 Assembly constituencies. Keeping this in view, the Bharatiya Janata Party will be throwing all its might to regain this seat while the Congress which is in power in the state will try to grasp this seat in its quest towards BJP free Bastar. However, both the women contestants contesting on behalf of BJP and Congress, have lost their husbands, both of whom had been great political leaders of the region and had sacrificed their lives in LWE violence.
The by-election, which is being conducted after demise of Bheema Mandavi, is significant in many number of reasons, it remains to be seen who would emerge victorious. In the meanwhile, the contest which is mainly between BJP and Congress, is gradually become interesting with every passing day with Sumit Karma from Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J), Bhimsen Mandavi from Communist Party of India, Keshav Netam from Bahujan Samaj Party and Kallu Bhawani from Aam Aadmi Party have jumped into the fray along with independent candidate Sundaru Kunjam.
Election Commission of India on August 25, 2019, had announced the schedule for by-election to fill casual vacancy in the State Legislative Assembly of Chhattisgarh by holding bye-elections to fill vacancy in Dantewada (88) Assembly Constituency (ST). Accordingly notification was issued on August 28. The last date of filing nominations is September 4 which will be followed by scrutiny of nomination forms on September 5. Candidates can withdraw their names from the contest till September 7. Polling will be held on September 23, 2019 (Monday). Counting and subsequent announcement of results will be held on September 27, 2019.