Raipur:

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday filed nomination from his traditional seat Patan in Durg district for the assembly polls scheduled next month and expressed confidence that the Congress will retain power in the state.

The 62-year-old CM posted pictures on his X handle of filing the nomination papers at Durg collectorate.

Chhattisgarh assembly speaker Charan Das Mahant and state Home Minister Tamradhwaj Sahu were seen accompanying him while filing the nomination.

“Name- Bhupesh Baghel. Assembly Constituency- Patan. With the blessings of Chhattisgarh Mahtari (mother Chhattisgarh), today I have filed nomination as a candidate again from Patan assembly constituency. #fir_se_layenge_Congress (will bring Congress again),” the CM said on X.

नाम- भूपेश बघेल
विधानसभा क्षेत्र- पाटन

छत्तीसगढ़ महतारी के आशीर्वाद से आज पुनः पाटन विधानसभा क्षेत्र से प्रत्याशी के रूप में नामांकन दाखिल किया है. #फिर_से_कांग्रेस_लाएंगेpic.twitter.com/PwsnBDr2ku

— Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) October 30, 2023

Before going for filing the nomination, Mr Baghel shared his pictures on social media in which his wife is seen applying ’tilak’ on his forehead at their residence in Bhilai.

“I always remember the day when I went to file nomination for the first time. Today I have left from my Bhilai residence to file nomination as a candidate from Patan. My wife Mukteshwari applied tilak like every time. Your love is my strength. For the self-respect of Chhattisgarhiya, I promise to always remain dedicated in serving you all,” the CM said in his social media post.

Patan, a rural constituency, share border with the state capital Raipur.

Mr Baghel has been elected five times from the seat – in 1993, 1998, 2003, 2013 and 2018.

In 2008, he lost the assembly poll to BJP’s Vijay Baghel, who is also his nephew.

The opposition BJP in the state has fielded Vijay Baghel, who is currently the Lok Sabha member from Durg, in this assembly seat. The CM and the BJP candidate belong to Kurmi – an influential OBC community in the state, which has a sizable population in the constituency. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Raipur::

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has said the BJP can seek a National Investigation Agency probe into the killing of its worker in Maoist-affected Mohla-Manpur-Ambagarh Chowki district, in case it is not satisfied with the police investigation.

BJP worker Birju Taram was shot dead by suspected Maoists in village Sarkheda on the night of October 20. The BJP has termed it a “targeted” killing.

Asked about the BJP claim, Mr Baghel said, “The last time when they had levelled allegations of BJP workers being targeted and killed, I had told them to get the incidents investigated by the NIA. NIA does not even need recommendation. When (BJP MLA) Bhima Mandavi was killed (in April 2019 in a Maoist attack), the Chhattisgarh police was probing it but they (BJP-led Centre) sent NIA (to probe the case).”

“If they feel the incident of Mohla-Manpur is a targeted killing, they should get it investigated by the NIA. Who is stopping them? The way ED and IT are roaming here, NIA can also come. Who will stop them (NIA)? Whether the probe is done by the government, state police or NIA, the truth must come out,” he added.

State BJP chief Arun Sao visited Taram’s house in Sarkheda on Monday and alleged the incident was not only a targeted killing but a political murder to secure power.

“Violence has no place in democracy. The murder of Taram is not only a targeted killing but a political murder to grab power. But the state government has been sitting silently when political rivalry is turning into violence. The BJP is committed to ensuring justice for Taram’s family,” Mr Sao told reporters.

Taram had informed the local administration about the threat to his life, but no steps were taken to provide security to him, he claimed.

The Congress government is scared of the public (anticipating defeat in next month’s assembly polls) and, therefore, targeted killing of BJP workers is taking place, he alleged.

“The Congress has a history of political murders for power. Political murders have been taking place continuously in Chhattisgarh. Earlier BJP workers were killed in Bastar, which were also targeted and political murders,” he claimed.

Polling to the 90-member state assembly will be held in two phases on November 7 and 17. The counting of votes will take place on December 3.

Sunil Soni, the BJP Lok Sabha MP from Raipur, on Monday said his party has filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India seeking action on murders of Taram and others.

The BJP has also demanded deployment of Central forces in sensitive and highly sensitive polling stations in Maoist-affected areas, he added.

“The BJP has sought the removal of the Chhattisgarh Director General of Police and transfer of Inspector General of Police of the concerned range and Superintendent of Police of Mohla-Manpur district,” Mr Soni said.

Raipur:

 Accusing the BJP-led government at the centre of misusing its power as well as central agencies, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday alleged that the central government will immediately take action against him on getting an opportunity.

CM Bhupesh Baghel said, “They are not getting any chance (to arrest me); otherwise, are they going to leave me? They are misusing their powers.”

CM Baghel expressed this while speaking exclusively with ANI in Raipur on Friday in response to a question about whether he feels that ED would arrest him as the central agency had held bureaucrats and raided the addresses of people close to him.

Dubbing the action carried out by the ED in the recent past as a part of the conspiracy, the CM said that they (BJP) do not have any programmes or schemes to attract the public, so they are constantly trying to defame the state government.

“They (referring to the opposition BJP in the state) are no longer capable of fighting. Being in power for 15 years, they got used to availing themselves of the benefits of privileges and are now not in the state to fight. Therefore, they are indulging in defaming the government and yet to prove anything,” said the CM.

Terming the raids carried out by the central agency in Chhattisgarh on rice millers (on Friday) as a move to impact the paddy procurement drive, which is scheduled to commence from November 1, the CM said the action was done to defame the Chhattisgarh government.

“They have stooped so low to gain power that they are not even thinking about the financial loss of farmers,” said the CM.

The Election Commission has announced that the first phase of polling for 20 seats in Chhattisgarh will be held on November 7, and the remaining 70 seats in Chhattisgarh will go to polls on November 17.

Polls will be held in Mizoram on November 7, Chhattisgarh on November 7 and November 17, Madhya Pradesh on November 17, Rajasthan on November 25 and Telangana on November 30.

The counting of votes will take place on December 3 in all the states. Of the five states, polling in Chhattisgarh will be held in two phases.

The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with the announcement of poll dates. The elections to five states are crucial as they are being held months before the Lok Sabha elections in April-May next year.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Raipur:

The Congress registered a landslide victory in the 2018 Chhattisgarh assembly elections because of the “strong” anti-incumbency against the BJP that had ruled the state for 15 years between 2003 and 2018. The Congress currently holds 71 seats in the 90-member state assembly and is aiming to win 75 seats in the upcoming elections riding on the Bhupesh Baghel-led government’s pro-farmers, pro-tribals, and pro-poor schemes.

The ruling party is also eyeing to cash in on CM Baghel’s popularity as he has a significant hold over the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and rural voters.

What Are Congress’ Strengths In Chhattisgarh?

Implementation of several welfare schemes, including Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay and Godhan Nyay Yojana, catering to farmers and rural population, unemployment allowance, and procurement of millets and various forest produce at support price.

CM Baghel has developed his image as a son of the soil, enhancing his popularity among the native population. He has a significant hold over the Other Backward Classes (OBC) and rural voters.

In the last five years, the party has strengthened its organisational set-up till the booth level. Around 3 lakh youths associated with the Rajiv Yuva Mitan Club scheme could help the party in mobilising voters in its favour. This scheme is aimed at connecting young people of the state with creative works, developing leadership skills, and making them aware of their social responsibilities.

The Congress won bypolls held to five assembly seats in Chhattisgarh after 2018, consolidating its position in the state.

Congress’ Weaknesses In Chhattisgarh

There is factionalism and infighting in the grand old party’s state unit. In the last five years, CM Baghel’s bete noire in the party TS Singh Deo raised a banner of revolt multiple times. Finally, the party had to placate him by appointing him as the deputy chief minister earlier this year. Another leader Mohan Markam, a former state Congress president, was also not on good terms with Mr Baghel. But he was inducted into the state cabinet a few months back. Despite all this, the internal bickering is far from over.

The government is facing allegations of corruption in coal transportation, liquor sale, District Mineral Foundation (DMF) fund utilisation, and Public Service Commission recruitment in the state.

Some incidents of communal violence and clashes over religious conversion occurred in the state during the present regime, giving an opportunity to the opposition BJP to build a narrative against the Congress of being anti-Hindu.

Congress’ Opportunities In Chhattisgarh

The BJP has failed to mount an effective attack on the Congress in the last nearly five years.

 Leadership issue in the BJP: After the 2018 assembly polls, the BJP has changed its state chief thrice and also changed its leader of opposition in the state assembly last year. The saffron party has also virtually sidelined Raman Singh, whose last tenure as CM between 2013 and 2018 was rocked by alleged civil supplies scam and chit fund scam.

The Congress has been continuously targeting the BJP, claiming its central leadership does not have faith in the party’s frontline leaders in the state.

Weak BJP district units that failed to counter Congress’ narrative against the BJP-led Centre at the local level.

Threats Congress Faces In Chhattisgarh

Unfulfilled promises, including liquor ban and regularisation of contractual employees, may attract the wrath of people in various constituencies.

The ‘Modi factor’ gives the BJP an edge over rival parties.

Entry of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Sarwa Adivasi Samaj (an umbrella body of tribal organisations) into the elections may damage the vote bank of the Congress.

Of the 68 Congress MLAs who were elected in 2018, a total of 35 were first timers and most of them are now facing opposition from the public over their performance. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Raipur:

As a move to corner the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government in Chhattisgarh over the issue of corruption, BJP on Thursday launched a QR code ‘BhuPay’, taking users to a website carrying information about alleged scams that took place in the state involving link of people close to power corridor.

The website claims that corruption worth several crores took place in the state which includes liquor scams, alleged irregularities in the selection of candidates in CGPSC, corruption in rice allocated for PDS, misappropriation to the tune of several crores on the pretext of Gauthans, coal scam and others.

भू-पे पर स्कैन करें और देखें भूपेश के सभी घोटाले एक ही जगह पर#भू_पेpic.twitter.com/U4ZtQaJFCf

— BJP Chhattisgarh (@BJP4CGState) October 5, 2023

Moreover, the online platform also claimed that an amount to the tune of around Rs 1500 crore was amassed for “Bharat Todo Yatra” (BJP termed Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ as ‘Bharat Todo Yatra’).

Through this website, the BJP accused the state government of indulging in collecting commission in works carried out under District Mineral Foundations (DMF) and people close to the government of having links in the Mahadev betting case.

Launching the scanner, Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Anurag Thakur said that with the help of technology, the BJP will expose the Bhupesh Baghel-led government in the state in front of people.

The union minister further attacked the Congress government stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi ensured the safe rescue of 23000 Indian students from a war-hit foreign country by launching ‘Operation Ganga’ and contrary to it, the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh ensured the flow of liquor like a river and corruption in its sale even after the pledge to ban it by taking holy ‘Gangajal’ on hand.

छत्तीसगढ़ को कांग्रेस ने जमकर लूटा है और भूपेश सरकार के भ्रष्टाचार का लेखा-जोखा देने व जनता को एकजुट करने के लिए हम एक वेबसाइट https://t.co/EUNGxzSyY6 लेकर आये हैं।

QR Code से Scan करें और भूपेश सरकार के भ्रष्टाचार का लेखा जोखा देखें। इस Website के अंत में भ्रष्टाचार के विरूद्ध… pic.twitter.com/FYQMlnvnXT

— Anurag Thakur (@ianuragthakur) October 5, 2023

After BJP came to power, Chhattisgarh under the leadership of Raman Singh had achieved new heights of progress but in the last five years, the situation turned worse, claimed the Union Minister, adding that the existing situation of the state was obvious because the promise of liquor ban was made by keeping Gangajal in hand but the government ensured its home delivery.

The government failed to provide employment, he said.

The state government did not release a bonus of two years to farmers, said the union minister, adding that several promises are yet to be fulfilled.

He further alleged that 39000 children in tribal-dominated areas died due to the absence of proper healthcare facilities

Collectors have been given the task of collection, alleged Mr Thakur, adding that the state has become famous for committing corruption.

He asked CM Baghel to answer what steps are being taken to fulfill the promises made in the poll manifesto.

Massive resentment is prevailing among youths and its fallout will be visible during the coming elections, he said.

He also attacked the APP-led Delhi government in connection with the liquor scam.

He also took a dig at Congress for spreading rose petals to welcome Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi and alleged that the money amassed through corruption was used in it.

It is worth mentioning that Chhattisgarh is one of the five states, going to polls later this year.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)