With a day left for the first phase of the election in Chhattisgarh, the Congress was in the eye of the storm after corruption charges were levelled against Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in the poll-bound state. The party has now decided to approach the Election Commission of India in the matter. Meanwhile, Baghel has dismissed the allegations and said the issue was being raked up keeping in mind the election in the state.
Confirming that the party would approach the poll body today, Baghel said, "Why has the Election Commission not taken cognizance of this? ... A complaint will be sent from us...Investigation should be done for the tarnishing image... There are clear directions in the guidelines of the Election Commission...They should look into this."
Reacting to a purported video released the the BJP in which Mahadev betting app case accused Shubham Soni claimed to have evidence showing that Baghel and others were paid Rs 508 crore, he said, "It is no mystery why and how this video has come and it is also not difficult to understand that such a statement has been issued at the time of elections only to benefit the BJP," Baghel said in a post on X.
"Everyone also understands that this is being done by weaponising ED. In fact, BJP is now contesting elections with the help of ED and is using it to defame me," he added.
Speaking on the issue and Congress's demand for the intervention of the EC, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said, "I only want to ask whether there should be an investigation or not?... What is the ED's statement?... What demand are they (Congress) taking to the Election Commission?... Are they going to demand to the Election Commission that no matter what the corruption and the scam is, we don't want any inquiry? I don't understand what they are going to present before the EC. Even the common people are not able to understand this. I want to ask (Bhupesh) Baghel that if the accused has alleged that money has reached the CM, then an investigation should be conducted or not?"