Chhattisgarh assembly elections: Congress banks on Baghel govt's welfare measures

Raipur: Congress hopes to retain power in Chhattisgarh in the forthcoming assembly elections, scheduled to be held in the state in two phases on November seven and November 17.

While 20 Naxal-infested assembly seats are scheduled to go to polls in the first phase on November seven, the remaining 70 seats in the state are scheduled to go to elections on November 17.

“We are confident that the pro-farmer policies and various poverty alleviation schemes of the Bhupesh Baghel government will help us achieve our target to bag at least 75 seats in the polls”, state Congress president Deepak Baij said on Monday.

A party leader said that Congress has been able to cultivate a ‘strong base’ among the farmers by launching various schemes such as Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Kalyan Yojana, providing an incentive of Rs 10,000 per year each to them.

According to Mr Baij, the state government has been procuring paddy at Rs 2,640 per quintal from the farmers in the state.

At least 27 lakh farmers have been benefited by these measures.

Congress also hopes to gain from other welfare measures such as halving the electricity bills of consumers and providing unemployment allowance of Rs 2,500 per month each to the youth, Mr Baij said.

Congress has completed its first round of campaign by undertaking ‘Bharosa ke yatra’ recently.

The Opposition BJP which started its poll preparations a couple of months ago by announcing its first list of 21 candidates has decided to make alleged corruption in Bhupesh Baghel government a major issue in the elections.

“We are well prepared for the polls. BJP will form the government with full majority in Chhattisgarh in the elections. Every sector of the state government is hit by scandals. No area is left without being hit by scams”, senior BJP leader Om Prakash Mathur who is also in-charge of party’s election in Chhattisgarh said on Monday.

BJP sources said that the party would highlight the alleged scandals exposed in the Bhupesh Baghel government during raids on the houses of some bureaucrats, Congress MLAs and leaders and businessmen prominently, in its campaign.

“BJP will raise the issues of large scale illegal conversions taking place in tribal areas in the state in the polls”, state BJP president Arun Sao said.

BJP has also completed its first round of campaigning by undertaking ‘Parivartan Yatra’ in the state.

Congress had won the last assembly polls hands down by securing 68 out of 90 assembly seats, reducing BJP’s strength to 15.