Repeated passenger train cancellations emerge as an electoral issue in Chhattisgarh

With over 60,000 trains cancellations in the last three years, the Congress has decided to take the matter up as an electoral issue

Unlike most election cycles which see divisive social issues at the fore, railways, or specifically, repeated passenger train cancellations, have emerged as an election issue in Chhattisgarh for a change.

With less than a month to go until the first phase of voting, the ruling Congress identifies these cancellations – that it alleges are a deliberate move to accommodate the passage of more goods trains carrying coal on the tracks – as a fundamental issue. The party plans to turn up the heat on the Bharatiya Janata Party – which rules the Centre and is the main challenger in the State – over these cancellations.