Development main issue in Karvi, Manikpur in Chitrakoot

CHITRAKOOT: Unlike most villages where political conversation resolves around caste and community, in Karvi and Manikpur constituencies of Chitrakoot, the epicentre of conversation is development.
Feeling cheated, people in Karvi and Mainkpur now want to see overall development. They say that the land of Lord Rama should be developed as a model as lakhs of devotees and tourists come every year.
"Bahut ho gaya aur iss bar, jo development ki baat karega, uski hi baat suni jayeege (It's too much, we will be hearing those who talk about development," declared Pushkar Trivedi, a resident of Ramghat. "People of Karvi need more developmental projects as well as employment opportunities," he added.
"The area is known for either Lord Rama or bandits. We now want employment and develop at any cost as we have been facing hardships for the last two decades," another resident Santosh Patel said.
The road from Karvi to Manikpur is broken at several places. It speaks volumes about the condition of other remote areas. Even the Karvi bus station requires a face-lift. Villages have no roads, light and other basic facilities.
During 2007 assembly elections, Bahujan Samaj Party had won both Karvi and Manikpur seats. In Karvi, BSP candidate Dinesh Prasad had defeated his nearest rival RK Singh Patel of Samajwadi Party. Daddu Prasad of BSP had defeated his nearest rival Satya Naran of SP.
Now, the people are talking about development. From Karvi seat, Chandrika Prasad of BJP, Veer Singh of Samajwadi Party and Ram Sewak Shukla are in the fray.
In Manikpur, Shyama Charan Gupta of Samajwadi Party, Sampat Pal of Congress and Chandra Bhan of BSP are contesting the elections.
Most of the candidates are promising overall development of the area.
Caste factor is also going to shape the future of the candidates. Independent candidates are likely to make a dent in the vote bank of contestants of major political parties.
From Karvi Chitrakoot seat, Rekha Nishad, wife of slain dacoit Shankar Kevat has announced to contest the elections. Kevat was killed in a police encounter five years back.
However, poor structure of roads, inadequate water supply and meager employment opportunities are prime issues for voters and they are finding it difficult to caste their franchise on these issues.
In both the seats, Brahmin and Patel community voters hold sway. Contestants from all major political parties are eying these sections of voters.