Key Points
Bastar witnessed a significant voter turnout of over 64 percent, which highlights the adivasi community's desire for change and development...
During the assembly elections held in October last year, 126 new polling booths were established in areas where there were none before due to the Maoist presence in those areas...
The defiance of Bastar's people to the Maoist diktat of boycotting elections and ruling dispensation's resolve to make democracy more accessible to the people of Bastar is a step forward towards improving the overall security situation..
Also, since the day polling dates were announced, on March 16, at least 60 Maoists have been gunned down by the security forces in Bastar division, according to the data compiled by South Asia Terrorism Portal, pointing to the fact that Maoists are on the back foot..
The opportunity, as of today, has offered itself in several avenues such as the healthy voter turnout in polls, defying Maoist calls, that indicate the growing faith of adivasis in democracy, heavy losses for Maoists and their ageing leadership, negligible tribal elements in leadership roles, and upbeat infrastructural development in the region..
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