BThe Bharatiya Janata Party, contrary to the tall claims by some of its leaders, face neck and neck battle with Congress in Chhattisgarh state, a survey sponsored by the party said.
The random survey carried out by Shodh, a Jabalpur-based organisation, concluded that BJP was leading on 32 seats while the ruling Congress was ahead on 23 seats out of a total of 90 Assembly seats in the state.
It predicted that there would be a triangular fight in as many as eight seats while CPI, NCP, Gondwana Party and BSP were leading each one seat in the state.
Former Union Minister and BJP general secretary, Pramod Mahajan, who was in Chhattisgarh recently, also said the the Assembly elections would be a tough one for the party.
According to Mahajan, the survey team met over 64,000 people in all 90 Assembly constituencies in Chhattisgarh and felt that the party would face a tough contest in 23 seats.
According to the survey report, lack of development in the new state, incumbency, corruption, conversion and high-handedness of the ruling party would be the major issues.
The caste credential of chief minister Ajit Jogi and excess of his government are also issues among the voters. Answering a question, he, however, said there was a wave favouring a change in Chhattisgarh.
While giving the details about the finding he reportedly told the party functionaries to work hard unitedly for ensuring the success of the organisation in the forthcoming elections.