Less than a week left for the first phase of assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, Naxals have put up posters protesting the voting process especially anti-BJP posters asking people not to vote for the party. The posters further threaten people with consequences if they vote for BJP.
The posters have mainly emerged in Bijapur district which has especially targeted the forest Minister Mahesh Gaagda.
This development has taken place two days after 62 “hardcore Naxals” surrendered before security forces in Chhattisgarh which the BJP minister Rajnath Singh had termed as a “huge achievement”. Out of 62Naxals 55 surrendered with their arms and ammunition in Narayanpur district.
The Maoists had also had an altercation with four civilians on October 30 in Dantewada district in which a Doordarshan cameraman had died. Sainath, the secretary of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) Darbha Divisional Committee, took responsibility for the violence.
He released a statement in which he clarified that their intention was to target the police and not the media because “journalists are our friends, not enemies”. “It is a matter of grief that Achyuta Nanda Sahu died in the ambush near Nilawaya village. The ambush was against the policemen who have been harassing and beating villagers opposing the construction of a road between Aranpur and Burgum. We will not kill journalists intentionally. The Chief Minister and police are spreading lies after the incident”, said Sainath.
The statement further added an appeal to people to boycott the upcoming Assembly polls especially the BJP.
Elections for the 90-seat Chhattisgarh Assembly will take place in two phases. The first phase of polls will be held on November 12 for 18 seats and on November 20 for 72 constituencies.