The enchanting city of Dongargarh with its ancient temple of Devi Bamleshwari, perched atop the highest peak, has long been a revered destination for the devout. With its religious harmony and significant political influence, this mystical city holds much promise for those seeking political power.

The word Dongargarh, meaning “mountains” and “fort,” conjures images of a grand, majestic city atop a lofty peak. This city boasts several temples, including the famous Maa Bamleshwari Devi Temple, with its spiritual importance and countless legends. Other prominent shrines in the vicinity include the Chhoti Bamleshwari Temple, Shivji Temple, and temples dedicated to Lord Hanuman. The town’s sole passenger ropeway adds to its allure, offering visitors a breathtaking ride and panoramic views. Dongargarh is known for its religious harmony and has a considerable population of Buddhists, Sikhs, Christians, and Jains, apart from Hindus. The city’s oldest and most beautiful Roman Catholic church, the Sacred Heart Church, is located near the railway station.

As an important religious city, Dongargarh also holds significant political influence, with Congress and BJP vying for power. The upcoming elections may have a close finish if both parties field the right candidates after proper assessment of their winnability. However, party workers are not entirely satisfied with their leadership, and cadres must be placated. Congress lost three consecutive elections to BJP after Chhattisgarh state was formed. Still, in the last election, party candidate Bhuneshwar Baghel registered a convincing victory, defeating BJP candidate Sarojani Banjare by over 35,000 votes. However, reports suggest that the Congress candidate may face stiff opposition due to poor work under the P M Awas Yojna (Mor Awas) and the Gothan scheme. Despite this, the party has earned credits for its road works, new building constructions, and complete renovation of the stadium. Dongargarh’s people still recall the works for adequate irrigation completed after the 2003 elections. Interestingly, the party that repeats the candidate in the constituency usually loses the election, as per general belief. And in every election a new candidate wins. In the upcoming elections, Congress may repeat Bhuneshwar Shobharam Baghel, the farmer face, and the winning candidate of the last election with the highest margin of votes.

However, Harshita Baghel and Thaneshwar Patila are also in the ticket race. As far as facilities for the pilgrims reaching Dongargarh, the temple trust provides provisions and facilities, and public representatives hardly have any role in it. Scheduled cast votes play a major role in victory, given their dominance in the region. On the other hand, reports suggest that BJP’s Vinod Khandekar, Ramji Bharti, Sarojani Banjare, Pawan Meshram, and Rajesh Shyamkar are in the ticket race. However, there is opposition against the last two as they are not from the constituency. Furthermore, Ramji Bharti’s name also may not figure. Sarojani Banjare was defeated by her Congress rival by the highest number of votes and this could be a disqualification for her. With Dongargarh’s spiritual significance and political importance, the upcoming election is bound to be an intriguing affair, with both Congress and BJP leaving no stones unturned to claim victory in this crucial constituency.