Raipur: The Congress convoy for Parivartan rally was scheduled to reach Jabalpur via Sukma to Dantewada to Gadiras. This decision was taken with the consent of State Congress President Nandkumar Patel, former central minister Vidya Charan Shukla and Mahendra Karma.

But the route was changed at the last minute. Who changed it and why was it changed? What happened when everything was decided prior to the rally?

A local leader of Dantewada sitting with other Congress leaders asked to change the route. It was then when the route of the convoy was changed. It was going to Jabalpur through Darbha and Jagdalpur. Notably, there weren't any banners or flags put up for the welcome of the Congress leaders. Though, there were all arrangements done for the parivartan rally at Gadiras but the convoy did not take that route. The decision taken at the last minute proved costly. Police are now investigating as to who instigated them to take this decision.

The guerrillas killed at least 30 people including top Congress leaders when they attacked the convoy during Congress-led Parivartan Rally on Saturday. Party leader and founder of Salwa Judum Mahendra Karma was killed in the ambush. Armed Naxals had also abducted Chhattisgarh Congress president Nandkumar Patel and his son at gunpoint. Their bodies were later found on Sunday.