Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh:

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi on Monday launched a veiled attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over dynasty politics and said that it’s not about nepotism, it is the devotion towards the country which cannot be diminished.

“When we talk about our ancestors, then those who criticize us talk about dynasty politics. This is not nepotism, this is a devotion towards the country that cannot be finished,” the Congress leader said while addressing a public rally in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur.

She also gave examples of sacrifices made by her family while referring to her grandmother, Indira Gandhi and her father Rajiv Gandhi, both were former Prime Ministers of India.

“I always think that such a violent incident happened with us but our grandmother has filled our hearts with such patriotic sentiment that even for once our faith towards our country didn’t diminish. After seven years of her passing away, when I was 19, a similar incident happened with my father, still, my faith in this country didn’t diminish,” the Congress leader said while addressing a public rally in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur.

Hitting out the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi said that the party didn’t think of helping women in the last 18 years, and now since the elections are near they are starting schemes in favour of women of the state.

“There has been a BJP government in Madhya Pradesh for 18 years. The BJP government has not thought of helping women in 18 years. Now the scheme was started two months before the elections and money is being given to women,” the Congress leader said.

Meanwhile, the Congress also announced eight benefits for the people of the poll-bound state of Chhattisgarh.

These benefits include a subsidy of Rs 500 on refilling cylinders. Free electricity up to 200 units, and free electricity up to 200 units per month on high consumption. Loans taken under women’s self-help groups and the Saksham scheme were waived off.

The Establishment of 700 new rural industrial parks in Swami Atmanand will upgrade all government schools into English and Hindi medium schools. Free treatment will be provided in case of road accidents and emergencies. Loans worth Rs 726 crore for 6,600 vehicle owners associated with the transport business till the year 2018 were also waived off and lastly, the Congress leader said that ‘Tivara’ will also be purchased on MSP.

Chhattisgarh is scheduled to hold polls in two phases on November 7 and 17. The counting of votes will take place on December 3 in all five poll-bound states. The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with the announcement of poll dates.

Earlier in the 2018 assembly polls, the Congress witnessed a landslide victory in Chhattisgarh, winning 68 seats out of 90 of those against the then-ruling BJP, which acquired 15 seats.

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

Raipur:

 The ruling Congress on Friday expelled Antagarh MLA Anoop Nag for defying the party and contesting as an Independent candidate from the seat in the Chhattisgarh Assembly polls scheduled for November 7 and 17.

Disciplinary action has been taken against Mr Nag on the directions of state unit chief Deepak Baij, the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee said in its expulsion order.

Mr Nag, who is contesting against the party’s official candidate Roopsingh Potai in Antagarh (ST) seat, has been expelled for six years, Congress leaders said.

If anyone makes a move against the party line, then all efforts will be made to pacify the person but if he or she doesn’t agree then he or she will face disciplinary action, state deputy chief minister and senior Congress leader TS Singh Deo said.

Antagarh will go to polls in the first phase on November 7.

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

Raipur (Chhattisgarh):

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday released its fourth and final list of candidates for the upcoming Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, fielding party leader Rajesh Agarwal from Ambikapur constituency against state Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo.

The party’s final list has four candidates including Sushant Shukla from Beltara, Dhaniram Dhivar from Kasdol and Dipesh Sahu from Bemetara.

The first phase of polling for 20 seats in Chhattisgarh will be held on November 7.

The BJP has now declared all 90 candidates in the state. The party’s first list of 21 candidates included Lok Sabha MP Vijay Baghel, who has been fielded against Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in Patan in Durg district.

The second list had 64 candidates and the third list had a single name.

The Congress has also declared the names of all its 90 candidates.

After the first phase of polling on November 7, the remaining 70 seats in the state will go to polls on November 17. The counting of votes will be done on December 3.

Last week, the BJP released the list of 40 star campaigners for the first phase of the state polls.

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

Aam Aadmi Party has so far released the names of 45 candidates for polls in the Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh.
| Photo Credit: Photo: X/@AamAadmiParty

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has released its fourth list of 12 candidates for the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections scheduled next month.

With this, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party has so far released the names of 45 candidates for polls in the Congress-ruled State. Elections to the 90-member Chhattisgarh Assembly will be held in two phases on November 7 and 17.

“Announcement. Fourth list of candidates for the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections is here. All the best to all candidates. Is baar chalegi jhadu (this time broom will sweep). #ChhattisgarhMangeKejriwal,” the AAP said on X on October 22, while posting the list.

Editorial | Forest pitch: On the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections

Out of these 12 seats, six are reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates and one is for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates.

The AAP tried its luck for the first time in the 2018 Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh and fielded candidates in 85 out of the total 90 seats, but failed to open its account in the State.

The candidates announced in the fourth list are – Dev Ganesh Tekam (Samri-ST), Alexander (Lundra-ST), Munna Toppo (Sitapur-ST), Prakash Toppo (Jashpur-ST), Gopal Bapudia (Raigarh), Sobram Singh Saima (Pali-Tanakhar -ST), Parmeshwar Prasad Sandey (Janjgir-Champa), Neelam Dhruv (Khallari), Santosh Yadu (Baloda Bazar), Vijay Gurubaxani (Raipur North), Parmanand Jangde (Arang-SC) and Bhagirathi Manjhi (Bindranawagarh-ST).

The ruling Congress has announced candidates for all 90 seats, while the Opposition BJP has declared its candidates for 86 seats.