Nevertheless, Raman Singh did take a tough stance against Naxalism and, over the past three years, extended full support to the controversial anti-Naxalite movement Salwa Judum, openly showing solidarity with Congress veteran Mahendra Karma over the armed campaign led by villagers.

The fact that this worked in the BJP’s favour is clear with the poll results from Naxalite-infested Bastar region. The party also got a boost in its popularity with the 56-year-old leader’s food security scheme launched in January this year. The scheme earned him the nickname ‘Chawal Baba’ and provided 35 kg of rice at just Rs 3 per kg to 34 lakh families living below the poverty line. As he predicted, the scheme would become the party’s “lifeline” in the elections, especially since the rice actually reached the masses instead of being siphoned off by corrupt officials.

Born on October 15, 1952, at Thathapur village in Kawardha district, Singh has built up a reputation as “a fine human being” and capable politician. Associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) since childhood, he was elected as a corporator of the municipal council first and later became legislator twice in undivided Madhya Pradesh. He shot into the limelight when he defeated Congress heavyweight Motilal Vora from Rajnandgaon constituency in the 1999 Lok Sabha elections.

In October 1999, he was appointed as Union minister of state for commerce and industry in the Vajpayee government, a post he quit in order to take over as the BJP president in Chhattisgarh ahead of the December 2003 Assembly polls.

... contd.