Gadchiroli-Chimur Lok Sabha Elections: Key Facts About the Naxal-Affected Seat – News18

Gadchiroli-Chimur (ST) Lok Sabha constituency, situated in Maharashtra, is a Scheduled Tribe (ST) reserved seat. It encompasses part of Chandrapur district, part of Gondiya district, and the entire Gadchiroli district. This constituency was formed in 2008 and is one of the 10 seats in Maharashtra’s Vidharbha region. It is a Naxal-affected area.

Current MP: Ashok Mahadeorao Nete of BJP from 2014, preceded by Kowase Marutrao Sainu (Congress, 2009-14)

Candidates: Ashok Mahadeorao Nete (BJP), Dr Namdev Dasaram Kirsan (Congress)

Polling Date: Phase 1; April 19, 2024

Voting factors

• It’s a head-to-head contest between the BJP and the Congress in this seat. The Gadchiroli region had previously been a Congress stronghold, but in 2014, the Modi wave swept the Gadchiroli-Chimur seat.
• Where does BJP stand: In the 2019 Assembly elections, the BJP won three seats, including Armori, Gadchiroli and Chimur, while the Congress bagged Amgaon and Brahmapuri and NCP bagged Aheri.
• Ashok Nete factor: The BJP’s two-time incumbent MP Ashok Mahadeorao Nete is contesting for a third time. Though not a native, Nete, who is from Nagpur, has been living in the region for decades, having started a restaurant and progressing into starting a weekly newspaper, after which he joined the BJP to commit to his political leanings.
• Nete won in 2014 with massive vote margin of over 2.36 lakh votes and a vote share of 46.9% against the then Congress leader Dr Namdeo Dalluji Usendi. His lead narrowed in 2019 when he won with a margin of only around 77,000 votes against Usendi.
• Nete is well-known in the region and a popular leader among his constituents. He is credited with heightened development and penetration of welfare schemes in the region, and addressing issues in Medigatta, Surjagarh and bringing railways into the district of Gadchiroli.
• However, an air of anti-incumbency does flow in his favour as some are left unsatisfied with his performance.
• Usendi’s switch to BJP: Former Congress leader Namdeo Usendi who had been a runner up in the 2019 election and brought his vote share up to almost 39% from 26% in 2014 has switched to the BJP.
• In other words, Nete’s strongest rival is now on his side. Usendi has been campaigning and engaging in political activity for years in this seat and has become a popular face.
• This will boost Nete’s chances in the 2024 elections against the relatively fresh candidate introduced by the Congress this time.
• BJP confident of winning: The BJP is confident of winning all 10 seats in the Vidharbha region and has deployed the state leadership as well as national leadership, including PM Modi, and minister Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari, for the campaign.
• No major campaign rallies have been carried out in Gadchiroli in the last decade, however, owing primarily to security issues.
• Local issues: The election here is fought more on local issues than national ones. The popularity of local leaders is paramount for winning an election.
• The dominant ST and SC populations have been leaning towards the BJP for the most part, while no religious polarisation is evident here. Voters vote on local issues relating to unemployment, forest land ownership, development and so on.
• Voters also appreciate PM Modi’s development agenda and the implementation various welfare schemes targeting the poor and the ST communities in particular.
• Maoist factor: Maoists, still active in the constituency, are not in favour of a BJP candidate as they believe the party returning to power for a third time would bring in a stronger campaign against them in their strongholds.
• Left wing extremism has been a major problem affecting Gadchiroli-Chimur, Chnadrapur and other areas here. The BJP is vehemently anti-Naxal and in the last decade, anti-Naxal ops have eliminated dozens of armed operatives, while politically also, the Maoists have been cornered and cut to size owing to development, greater connectivity and the entry of tribals into the mainstream.
• Congress banks on fresh face: The Congress has introduced a relatively fresh face, Dr Namdev Dasaram Kirsan, to contest the election for the Gadchiroli-Chimur seat. Kirsan is a former excise official who began his political career eight years ago post-retirement.
• He has been spending time in the constituency for some years now and is a well-known face. However, he has task cut out as this is his first election on a big party ticket. He had earlier contested as an Independent candidate.
• According to the Gadchiroli Congress president Mahendra Brahmankar, Kirsan’s name was supported by every section of the party including senior leaders and grassroots level workers.
• Uphill task: Kirsan, however, has to go up against a popular BJP leader. The Congress cadres are also divided since former Congress MLA Namdeo Usendi joined the BJP.
• The party currently holds the Amgaon and Bhramapuri seats, and is expected to draw some support from them. Kirsan has the full backing of senior leaders, however, national leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi remain aloof from the seat.
• Ultimately, what seems to be working in his favour is the growing sense of anti-incumbency against sitting BJP MP. Meanwhile, the Maoists campaigning against the BJP may also work in his favour to some degree.

Key Constituency Issues

• Naxalism: In many ways, the heavily-forested Gadchiroli is the hot-seat and interstate junction for Naxalites as it lies in a key position in the red corridor, sharing borders with Naxal-affected regions in Chhattisgarh and Telangana.
• Militancy is a major issue. In the last decade, a serious onslaught has been mounted on Naxal activities by the state police as well as central security agencies.
• Gadchiroli’s home-grown anti-Naxal force, the C60 commandos are famous for anti-Naxal ops and outreach to the local populations. The two pronged strategy of eliminated armed militants, while bringing the most backward communities into the mainstream and facilitating development, has greatly improved the security situation in Gadchiroli and freed up large parts from Naxalism.
• According to Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, recruitment for the Naxal movement is drying up in Gadchiroli and Naxal leaders are leaning on recruits from other states to keep the movement going.
• Reports say that the C60 commandos, comprising locals, especially from ST communities are heavily equipped with the AK-103, a Russian assault rifle more advanced than the AK-47, and the latest head-mounted night vision devices with thermal imagers which boosts their advantage over the enemy even in the dark.
• Now, the state and central governments are spending about Rs 5 crore over a period of three years to expand the intelligence, operation and technical cells in the region.
• Mining activities in Surjagarh: Surjagarh, situated in the Surjagarh hill range, stands out as the primary and renowned iron ore reserve in Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district.
• It is prized for its high-quality iron ore deposits. The government has been promoting mining activities in the region and locals are keen on acquiring employment with the advent of these mines.
• With enhanced security, dozens of companies are keen on establishing mining and processing units here.
• However, they face threats from Maoists against working at these mines.
• In 2023, Lloyd Metals and Energy Limited (LME) received an environmental clearance to mine up to 10 million tonnes of iron ore at Surjagarh.
• While LMEL promises employment and a better life, Maoists have threatened villagers into not complying with the company.
• LMEL has started mining of iron ore and is building an integrated steel plant as well which is expected to create 15,000 jobs. There is some local opposition to mining in Surjagarh, backed by Maoists.
• However, most communities are in support of the government’s push for industries and expect new avenues for employment, marking a shift in public attitude in the last 10 years.
• Tribals facing threat of eviction: In this heavily forested area, tribals who are engaged in farming activities and who live in these forests, fear the threat of eviction.
• The government of late has been more accommodating and has granted ownership to tribals and even compensated them in case of big projects.
• Nonetheless, this remains an active zone of friction between tribal communities and the public administration.
• Man vs wild: In January this year, reports emerged that three were killed in attacks by tigers in just two weeks.
• Gadchiroli, being a densely forested region, witnesses many encounters of people with tigers, leopards, wild elephants and boars, which threatens their lives and livelihoods.
• Unemployment: Joblessness is a major issue as the advent of industries in this mineral rich region has been stifled by Naxalism and political neglect.
• As more people from the dominant SC and ST communities join the mainstream, they seek job opportunities in a highly limited job market. This is often raised in political campaigns.
• Connectivity during floods: Many villages become completely cut off and isolated when heavy rains and floods hit the region. This worsens the misery of the poor.
• The state government of late has ordered that no village should be left in such conditions and the construction of roads and bridges, mobile towers and so on is an active goal of the administration.
• Electricity: This is an issue in areas that remain aloof from the mainstream. Of late, electricity penetration has improved but remains a bone of contention as several villages remain in the dark.

Voter Demographics (2011 Census)

Total voters (2019): 1632556

Rural voters: 90.9%

Urban voters: 9.1%

Literacy rate: 69.54%

Social Demographics

SC voters: 12.1%

ST voters: 30.1%

Religious Demographics

Buddhist: 9.77%

Hindu: ~87%

Muslim: 2.5%

Sikh: 0.14%

Christian: 0.37%

Infrastructure

• Gadchiroli Steel Plant: Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that Surjagad Ispat Private Limited will be setting up an integrated steel plant, 80km off the mining area, at Konseri. It will cost Rs 10,000 crore to set up the steel plant and will generate around 8,000 jobs.
• Other Industries: In November 2023, the industries minister informed about the proposed Rs 22,000-crore investments by companies like Lloyds Metals and Varad Ferro in the district, for which he said, MoUs have been signed.
• LMEL is engaged in iron-ore mining and is setting up a steel plant here which will produce 15000 jobs.
• Ambuja Cement, JSW and other companies have expressed willingness to set up manufacturing units in Gadchiroli which would position the district among the top five in the state in terms of industrial development.
• Roads and Highways: On August 30, 2020, Nitin Gadkari unveiled several projects in Gadchiroli, including a 855-metre major bridge across Pranahita river on Nizamabad – Jagdalpur Road (NH 63), and improvements to the Bejurpalli-Aheri Road (SH 275) and Garanji – Pustola Road.
• Greenfield Express Highway: A new 64.2 km four-lane expressway is being constructed as part of the central government’s Bharatmala Pariyojana scheme.
• Connecting Gadchiroli in Maharashtra with Komaram Bheem Asifabad and Mancherial districts in Telangana.
• The expressway, with a budget of Rs 10,578 crore, is expected to significantly enhance connectivity and facilitate economic activities in the underdeveloped areas of Mancherial and Komaram Bheem Asifabad districts.
• Road to Surjagarh mines: The state government ha sapproevd the construction of an 84 km freenfield road connecting the Surjagarh iron ore mines till Konseri village in Gadchiroli district.
• Railway connectivity: Gadchiroli is not connected to railways. On November 22, 2023, LMEL and Indian Railway announced a 47-km proposed railway track from Mul in Chandrapur to Konseri in Gadchiroli.
• Dam: The entire Gadchiroli district is included in the drainage basin of Godavari river. At present, only one Major Dam Project namely Tultuli has been proposed by the Central Government on Khobragadi river and it is not completed. Apart from this, 11 Medium Dam projects are proposed but work is not completed.