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Ram Kumar Toppo, a 31-year-old former Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) commando who voluntarily retired in August to enter politics, secured victory in the Chhattisgarh assembly elections. Contesting on a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ticket from the Sitapur constituency, Toppo defeated incumbent Congress MLA Amarjeet Bhagat, a former minister in the Bhupesh Baghel-led Chhattisgarh government.
Toppo, honored with the President’s Medal for Gallantry in 2021, officially joined the BJP on September 1. His victory marked a significant shift in a constituency held by the Congress for two decades.
The former CRPF commando, who served in various regions including Nagaland, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Delhi, played a crucial role in anti-Naxal operations. Notably, Toppo was part of a team that neutralized three terrorists attempting to disrupt local body elections in Srinagar in 2018.
In the Chhattisgarh elections, Toppo emerged victorious with 83,088 votes, defeating Bhagat, who secured 65,928 votes. Toppo emphasized that the people in his constituency, aware of his CRPF background and social work, decided to give him an opportunity in politics.
Reflecting on his transition from a jawan to a political figure, Toppo expressed a commitment to addressing issues such as the influence of mafias, particularly in land and sand dealings, and the lack of women empowerment in the region. He acknowledged that the victory is a collective effort by the locals who chose him as their representative.
