New Delhi:

The BJP on Monday took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi over a slip of the tongue that his party’s governments in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh were on their way out, and said he had accepted defeat. Soon after the announcement of the election schedule in five states, Mr Gandhi while replying to a question on the party’s prospects said the governments in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh were going.

“In Madhya Pradesh, their state government is going, the government is also going in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh and also in Telangana. Sorry, I spoke wrongly. You confused me,” Mr Gandhi said and soon corrected himself.

“In Chhattisgarh, we have our government and it is coming back as also in Rajasthan. but BJP’s government in Madhya Pradesh is going. In Telangana too their (BRS) government is going and ours is coming. Seriously speaking, the atmosphere is very positive,” he said.

Posting a video clip of Mr Gandhi’s remarks on its “X” handle, the BJP wrote, “Rahul Gandhi has accepted that the Congress governments in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh are on their way out.” Several BJP leaders also shared the video clip on their X handles.

राहुल गांधी ने स्वीकार कर लिया, राजस्थान और छत्तीसगढ़ से जा रही है कांग्रेस सरकार! pic.twitter.com/85ORupRavs

— BJP (@BJP4India) October 9, 2023

Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram will go to the assembly polls between November 7 and 30.

The Election Commission on Monday announced that single-phase assembly polls will be held in Madhya Pradesh on November 17, Rajasthan on November 23, Telangana on November 30, and Mizoram on November 7 while Chhattisgarh will go to the polls in two phases on November 7 (20 seats) and 17 (70 seats).

New Delhi:

The Aam Aadmi Party is ready to contest the upcoming assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan with full strength and the names of candidates will be declared soon, its national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Monday.

The Election Commission has announced that assembly polls in Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana will be held on different days beginning November 7 and the votes will be counted on December 3.

Asked about the AAP’s preparation for the polls, Mr Kejriwal said, “We are prepared to contest the elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh with full strength.”

When asked whether his party will contest the elections as part of the INDIA bloc, he said that “whatever happens will be apprised”.

Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan are currently ruled by the Congress, which like the AAP is a partner in the opposition INDIA bloc.

(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.)