Raipur, Nov 13 (UNI) A day after first phase of polling in Chhattisgarh including in Naxal-hit areas,
the state Chief Minister Raman Singh on Tuesday said there was an overall "positive atmosphere" and this only shows in the next round of polls too the BJP will be way ahead.
"Ek positive vata-varan tha (There was a positive atmosphere)," Mr Singh told News State television channel.
Answering questions on the root cause of Naxalism in the state and will it be fair to blame the Congress for it when he has been in power for last 15 years, the Chief Minister quipped: "Janma-data Congress hae (It is Congress which gave birth to Naxalism in the region)".
He said, "It was due to Congress flawed policies that Naxalism has thrived in the region for last 40 years".
The Chief Minister went onto add that on the other hand, the state government under BJP has been tirelessly working since 2003 to fight the Maoist forces.
"But it is a fact, the Congress policies were responsible for the rise of Naxalism up to this level," said Mr Singh, who became second Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh succeeding Ajit Jogi - then a Congress leader.
In last two days since first phase of polling in Chhattisgarh including in onetime Naxal stronghold Dantewade region, local BJP leaders in Bilaspur and Raipur have said that the Naxals have been trying to put pressure on people not to cast vote.
"Low turnout of voters could have signalled, the Naxalism still rules the roost in the state. But the higher turnout today rejecting the threats and pressure tactics from those who believe in gun culture, shows, people are with the Raman Singh government which has been sincerely working in coordination with the Modi regime to fight Maoists," BJP worker Jeevan Lal has said in Raipur.
UNI DEVN AR 2011