Kawasi Lakhma

Kawasi Lakhma
Minister of Commercial Tax (excise)
Minister of Commerce and Industry
Government of Chhattisgarh
In office
2018–2023
Chief MinisterBhupesh Baghel
Succeeded by
Member of the Legislative Assembly, Chhattisgarh
In office
2003–present[1]
Preceded byManish Kunjam
ConstituencyKonta
Personal details
NationalityIndian
Political partyIndian National Congress

Kawasi Lakhma is a former cabinet minister of Chhattisgarh, India. He was also elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) five times consecutively from Konta. He was one of the survivors of 2013 Naxal attack in Darbha valley.

Early life

Kawasi Lakhma is from Nagaras village, Sonakukanur post, Konta Tehsil, Sukma district, Chhattisgarh and his place is a part of Bastar region.

Political life

Kawasi Lakhma, a tribal leader,[2] was elected as MLA (elected in 2008) from Konta constituency of Chhattisgarh state[3] and he was earlier elected in 2003 with a huge margin (securing 51.54% of votes polled).[4] His constituency is a Naxal hit area and he is capable of interacting with Naxals in their native language.[5] During 2013 Naxal attack in Darbha Valley, more than 30 people were killed and two other leaders travelling in the same car were taken away and killed by Naxals, sparing Lakhma.[6] As an opposition party MLA, he has raised concerns about the quality of developmental activities undertaken in the Naxal hit Sukma district.[7] He is cabinet minister of Commercial Tax (Excise), Commerce and Industry in government of Chhattisgarh.

After Naxal attack

His name was widely discussed as some of his party men expressed doubt about his integrity and questioned his role in the Naxal attack,[8] when other Congress leaders were shot dead in the attack, Kawasi Lakhma was spared and caused doubts.[9]

Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded a narco test on Kawasi Lakhma,[10] so that the details of dialogue he exchanged with Naxals during the deadly attack and any possible conspiracy, can be found out.[11] He won the election and became the minister of the state.

References

  1. ^ "Konta (Chhattisgarh) Assembly Constituency Elections". elections.in. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  2. ^ "BJP, Cong spar escalates over Maoists attack". millenniumpost. 30 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  3. ^ "List of MLAs of Chhattisgarh". infoelection.com. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  4. ^ "Chhattisgarh Assembly Election 2003". January 2013: Empowering India. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  5. ^ Jaiswal, Anuja (31 May 2013). "Congress politicising Bastan killings : BJP". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  6. ^ "Naxal Attack: Why Kawasi Lakma Spared?". 29 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  7. ^ "Congress members walkout from Chhattisgarh state assembly". ibnlive. 13 March 2013. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  8. ^ "Chhattisgarh split over MLA Kawasi Lakhma". 30 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  9. ^ Naveen, P (29 May 2013). "Mahendra Karma's missing security guard raises eyebrows". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 14 June 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
  10. ^ "मंत्री कवासी लखमा ने कहा-सबका कराया जाए नार्कोटेस्ट".
  11. ^ PTI (2 June 2013). "Naxal attack: BJP demands narco test on Congress MLA Kawasi Lakhma". ibnlive. Archived from the original on 29 June 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2013.