Raipur: Amid Chhattisgarh's continued struggle to raise the new state's visibility even in the fifth year after its formation, spurt in Naxalite violence, tribal uprising against left wing extremism, paddy and rice scams and expulsion of a BJP Member of Parliament for his involvement in `cash for query scandal' dominated the events during the year in the state.

Unlike in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh, which witnessed three BJP Chief Ministers in 18 months, the political situation remained stable here as Chief Minister Raman Singh had a smooth sailing second year in office without any major onslaught either from the opposition Congress or from within his organisation.

"What's special in completing two years in office? We feel satisfied only when we are able to able to fulfil the promises made to the people. We are working on a plan to be implemented during the next three years in a time bound manner for the state's development," Dr Singh said on December 7, the day he completed two years in office.

Dr Singh effected a major reshuffle of his cabinet in mid June, divesting senior minister Brijmohan Agrawal of the Home portfolio and handing over the Home department to tribal leader Ram Vichar Netam. While Mr Agrawal was entrusted with the Revenue department, Women and Child Welfare department minister Renuka Singh was removed from the ministry. A tribal leader from Bastar, Lata Usendi was inducted as minister of state for women and child development.

Though the political situation remained normal, the state drew attention for the wrong reasons, particularly increase in the activities of Naxalite outfit Communist Party of India (Maoist) mainly in tribal Bastar region, bordering Andhra Pradesh, and in Sarguja region neighbouring Jharkhand. As Naxalite groups are active in ten out of 16 districts, there were reports about left wing extremists penetrating into new areas in other districts.

Driven to desperation by the more than three-decade-old problem of Naxalite violence, the tribals in Bastar region launched `Salwa Judum'-- which means peace campaign in local dialect -- against the Naxalites and their sympathisers and to motivate the people to desist from extending cooperation to the extremists. Senior Congress leader and leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Mahendra Karma, who represents the Naxal infested Dantewara Assembly constituency, was among the forefront of this campaign but the movement remained apolitical with all parties, including the BJP, extending support to it.

Besides the Naxals went for a major strike in September near Bijapur in Dantewara district when they triggered a landmine blast, killing 24 people, including 22 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, who were on an anti-landmine vehicle. The anti-landmine vehicle, which was specially designed to withstand such blast was extensively damaged.

Stung by the major Naxal strike the State government immediately announced formulation of a legislation to ban Naxalite outfits and its frontal organisations so that the State gets sweeping powers to deal with naxalite sympathisers and organisations indulging in disruptive and unlawful activities.

The winter session of the Assembly, subsequently, adopted the Chhattisgarh Special Peoples' Security Bill 2005.

On the political scene, BJP Member of Parliament from Rajnandgaon, Pradeep Gandhi, was expelled from the Lok Sabha after he was caught on camera in a sting operation, accepting a bribe for allegedly raising questions in Lok Sabha.

It was a year of bad luck for former chief minister Ajit Jogi, who was already on a wheelchair since he suffered a backbone injury during a road accident during the April 2004 Lok Sabha elections. -- UNI

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