Chhattisgarh Polls: Are BJP's 'Charge Sheet' Against Congress And PM Modi's Image Enough For A Win?
Chhattisgarh Election 2023: The BJP is largely dependent on PM Modi's image and Hindutva sentiments for a win in Chhattisgarh, a tribal-dominated state.
With the Congress trying hard to retain power in Chhattisgarh, the BJP is going all out to wrest it from the Grand Old Party. The BJP, which lost the 2018 Chhattisgarh election after 15 years, has spared no effort to attack the Bhupesh Baghel government.
In its latest attempt to woo the voters of Chhattisgarh, the BJP has brought in PM Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Mansukh Mandaviya, Dharmendra Pradhan, Smriti Irani, Anurag Thakur, and Jyotiraditya Scindia, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan as star campaigners.
The BJP has compiled the "failures" and "shortcomings" of the Congress government in Chhattisgarh in the form of a 104-page "aarop patra" or "charge sheet". The saffron party alleged that the Congress government had failed to keep its promises to the people of Chhattisgarh. It said that the Congress had not fulfilled 19 of the 36 promises mentioned in the party's 2018 manifesto.
The BJP's Plan To Stage A Comeback
The BJP is largely dependent on PM Modi's image and a Hindutva sentiment for a win in Chhattisgarh, a tribal-dominated state. After the loss in 2018, the BJP bounced back in 2019 with wins on 9 out of 11 Lok Sabha seats.
On the other hand, the BJP has accused the Congress of stalling the implementation of an anti-conversion law. The BJP and its ideological wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have alleged mass religious conversions of tribals. The RSS has also demanded that those who change their religion to embrace Christianity or Islam should not be allowed to receive the associated benefits in education or government jobs.
The BJP is also pinning hopes on its "crusade against corruption" by the Bhupesh Baghel government. In an attempt to corner the Congress government, the BJP recently released a "charge sheet" with 69 allegations. The allegations highlight "poor state of law & order", women's security, liquor scam, PDS scheme scam, Covid relief scam, among others worth thousands of crores. The BJP also alleged rampant nepotism in government jobs in the state.
What Could Go Against BJP
The Congress's own Hindutva push with the state government promoting religious tourism. Bhupesh Baghel's push for the Ram Van Gaman Tourism Circuit' is seen as a step towards wooing Hindu voters. Another perceived as Congress's Hindutva push is the 'Godhan Nyay Yojana', under which cow dung is procured and cow shelters are built.
Adding to the BJP's woes, which faced a year-long farmers' protest across the country, primarily in north India, is the Congress's schemes for the farming community. Schemes like Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana and Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Bhomihin Krishi Majdoor Krishi Nyay Yojana have surely helped the Congress connect with the farmers' community.
What Do Pre-Poll Surveys Say?
The ABP-CVoter Opinion poll has predicted a close contest between the BJP and Congress. Out of the total 90 seats, the BJP is expected to secure 39 to 45 seats, with a 43% vote share, while the Congress is likely to win 45 to 51 seats with a 45% vote share.
However, the projections are not so great for former CM Raman Singh as he had the support of 26% of the respondents in the survey as the preferred CM candidate. This was far less than Bhupesh Baghel's 45% support among the respondents.
The 90-member Chhattisgarh Assembly goes to polls in two phases — on November 7 and 17. The results will be declared on December 3.
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