BJP's Ishwar Sahu, a riot victim, triumphs in Chhattisgarh's Saja constituency | Fusion - WeRIndia

In a surprising political upset, Ishwar Sahu, a labourer and victim of communal violence, emerged victorious in Chhattisgarh’s Saja constituency, defeating Congress stalwart Ravindra Choubey.

Sahu, who faced a personal tragedy when his son was killed in a communal clash, secured 1,01,789 votes, surpassing Choubey’s 96,593 votes by a margin of 5,196.

Choubey, a seasoned politician, had been a dominant force in Saja since 1985, except for a setback in the 2013 elections.

Serving as the parliamentary affairs minister in Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s cabinet, he held sway as the leader of the opposition from 2009 to 2013 in the Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly.

In contrast, Ishwar Sahu is not a conventional politician but a labourer and a victim of the communal clash that shook Saja earlier this year.

His son, Bhuvaneshvar Sahu, fell victim to the violence that erupted after a minor cycle collision between two schoolchildren escalated into a communal incident.

The tragic incident unfolded on April 8th in the Biranpur village of Bemetara district.

A minor dispute between two school students from different communities resulted in a collision.

Subsequently, a Muslim student struck the Hindu student with a glass bottle, leading to escalating tensions.

As the clash intensified, sword-wielding individuals from the Muslim community attacked Ishwar Sahu’s house.

Sahu’s 22-year-old son, Bhuvaneshvar, was dragged out, taken to a Muslim neighbourhood, and brutally killed with swords.

The Muslim community defended the act, claiming it was in retaliation for an alleged attempt by Bhuvaneshvar to attack Muslims.

During the election campaign, Ishwar Sahu did not shy away from addressing the tragic events.

He accused the sitting MLA, Choubey, of neglecting his duties as a public representative and criticized the alleged protection given to the accused murderers involved in the communal frenzy.

The people of Saja chose a different path in these elections, opting for Ishwar Sahu, the common man with a painful past, over the seasoned political veteran.

This unexpected political shift highlights the impact of local issues and personal narratives in influencing electoral outcomes.

Image Credit: Heinz OSM, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Image Reference: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chhattisgarh_districts.png