Today the Election Commission has announced the election dates of five states including Chhattisgarh. Shortly after the Election Commission’s announcement, Bharatiya Janata Party has also released the second list of its candidates in Chhattisgarh. Now both the parties have geared up to enter the electoral battle. On one hand, Congress is hoping to retain its power in the state by relying on the welfare schemes of the Bhupesh Baghel government. At the same time, Bharatiya Janata Party is trying to corner the government on the alleged corruption of the state government, religious conversion and unfulfilled election promises. Let us know what are the 10 big election issues in Chhattisgarh elections, which will decide who will become the CM of the state.
Corruption
The Congress government is facing criticism over alleged scams in coal mining, liquor business, District Mineral Foundation (DMF), cow dung procurement scheme and Public Service Commission. Along with this, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating money laundering cases related to alleged coal levy racket, liquor scam, use of DMF funds and an illegal online betting app in the state. Top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party president JP Nadda, cornered the Bhupesh Baghel government over these issues in their rallies and accused the Chief Minister of turning Chhattisgarh into an ATM for the Congress. Responding to the attack, Baghel accused the BJP-led central government of misusing central investigative agencies to malign his government’s image.
Schemes for farmers
Three major pro-farmer schemes have helped the Congress strengthen its position in rural and semi-urban areas. Under the Rajiv Gandhi Kisan Nyay Yojana, the government has given input subsidy of Rs 21,912 crore to about 23 lakh farmers growing Kharif paddy. A total of Rs 580 crore has been paid to cattle herders, Gauthan committees and women self-help groups under the Godhan Nyay Yojana (cow dung purchase scheme) in the state. Rajiv Gandhi Rural Landless Agricultural Laborer Krishi Nyay Yojana provides annual financial assistance to landless agricultural laborer families in rural areas. According to official data, assistance worth Rs 7,000 crore is being provided to approximately 3.55 lakh beneficiaries. The Baghel government has also announced that it will purchase 20 quintals of paddy during the current Kharif season compared to 15 quintals earlier. The positive impact of these schemes can pose a big challenge for BJP.
Chhattisgarhiism
Chief Minister Baghel promoted Chhattisgarhianism i.e. regionalism in the last five years and continuously requested to be proud of regional pride. Congress claimed that the people of Chhattisgarh were completely marginalized during the 15-year BJP rule. Baghel promoted regional festivals, sports, art and culture. He directed that a statue of Chhattisgarh Mahtari (a maternal image representing Chhattisgarh) be installed in every district. The official residence of the Chief Minister hosts festivals like Teeja-Pora and Govardhan Puja. The state government also organized the National Tribal Dance Festival. Constructed Devgudi and Ghotul (traditional community centres) in tribal areas of the state and established Adivasi Parab Samman Nidhi.
Tension between Christian and non-Christian tribals, religious conversion
In the last two years, many incidents of clashes over religious conversion have come to light in tribal dominated areas, especially in Bastar division. Violent clashes between tribals who converted to Christianity and local tribals were reported from the Narayanpur-Kondagaon border area in December 2022. The BJP accused the government of protecting those involved in conversion. However, Congress denied this allegation.
sectarian violence
Following incidents of communal violence in Kabirdham district in October 2021 and Bemetara district in April this year, the BJP accused the government of being biased towards a particular community. Congress accused BJP of playing communal politics in the absence of real issues. According to political experts, these incidents can polarize voters in Central Chhattisgarh.
prohibition of alcohol
The BJP has targeted the Baghel government for not fulfilling the key election promise of liquor ban made by the Congress. It is believed that this promise helped Congress get women’s votes in 2018.
Regularization of services of contract employees
This was another major promise made by Congress in the 2018 elections which has not been fulfilled yet. In the last two years, around 1.50 lakh contractual daily wage earners and outsourced workers have protested over this issue. BJP has promised to include the demand of contractual employees in its election manifesto.
OBC issue
Other Backward Classes (OBC), which constitute about 52 per cent of the state’s population, are demanding 27 per cent quota. The three major OBC communities, Sahu, Kurmi and Yadav, had largely supported the Congress in the 2018 elections. The issue became a matter of concern for the ruling party Congress when the Chhattisgarh High Court last year struck down the BJP government’s 2012 order increasing the overall quota in the state to 58 per cent. In the 2012 order, the quota for Scheduled Castes was reduced by four percent to 12 percent, while the quota for Scheduled Tribes was increased from 20 percent to 32 percent. Reservation for OBCs was kept unchanged at 14 percent.
The Congress government challenged the High Court’s decision in the Supreme Court. Later, a bill related to reservation was passed in the state assembly under which 32 percent quota was given to tribal community, 27 percent to OBC, 13 percent to Scheduled Caste and four percent to Economically Weaker Section (EWS). With this, there is a provision to give overall 76 percent reservation in the state. Both the bills are awaiting the approval of the Governor. In May, the Supreme Court had directed the government to implement 58 percent reservation.
infrastructure
The BJP has alleged that infrastructure development in the state has stopped in the last five years and the condition of roads has deteriorated.
central schemes
The BJP has accused the Baghel government of failing to implement the Centre’s Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and not implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission properly.