New Delhi: Wherever the BJP and the Congress are in direct competition, the 2019 Lok Sabha election has turned into a presidential-style battle between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi. But it’s not quite so in Chhattisgarh.
Here the parties’ campaigns are built around their respective state leaders — the BJP’s three-time former chief minister Raman Singh and Congress incumbent Bhupesh Baghel.
Three general elections have been held since Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000, and on each occasion the BJP won 10 seats and the Congress just one. But just four months ago, the political tables turned decisively when Singh’s 15-year government was voted out and the Congress stormed to victory with 68 seats in a House of 90.
The Lok Sabha elections in the state this time are being held in three phases — the first on 11 April saw polling in the Naxal-hit constituency of Bastar, the second on 18 April will witness voting in three constituencies, while the other seven will vote in the third phase on 23 April.
How the campaigns stack up
The BJP’s campaign material sees Singh share centre-stage with Modi. It’s a joint appeal for votes based on the Modi government’s work in New Delhi and Singh’s record in Raipur. Fearing anti-incumbency, the party has also gone for a clean-slate approach, denying tickets to all its sitting MPs.
Baghel and the Congress, meanwhile, have come up with a ’60 months vs 60 days’ campaign which, combined with the CM’s clean image and the delivery of farm loan waivers, forms the basis of its appeal.
In the assembly elections, the alliance of Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party and Janta Congress Chhattisgarh of Ajit Jogi had managed to win seven seats. This time, Jogi, the former Congress leader who served as the state’s first CM, has decided not to field any candidates of its own, and back the BSP on all 11 seats.
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New faces give hope to BJP workers
The BJP is hopeful that the new faces it has fielded will help buck the losing trend from the assembly elections.
“Party workers are elated. In fact, had the BJP tried the same formula during the assembly polls, we may have returned to power once more,” party spokesperson Sachchidanand Upasane told ThePrint.
However, Upasane did admit that the inexperienced new candidates may backfire on some seats. “On some seats, the new faces are working to our advantage. But on other seats, the strategy may hurt us too.”
He also said that Singh is the party’s face because he remains popular among the masses. “Modiji‘s craze is also intact,” he said.
Hitting out at the Congress’ promises to the voters, he said it was ironic that the party that rode to power by promising to waive farm loans had to now take loans for its day-to-day functioning.
Rahul promises, Baghel delivers
In the Congress camp, meanwhile, there is a lot of buzz. Spokesperson Vikash Tiwari told ThePrint that the party is going into these polls with twice its earlier strength.
“Our candidates are working overtime to ensure that common people are aware about the NYAY scheme. Chhattisgarh will be the biggest beneficiary of this scheme. CM Bhupesh Baghel has ensured time-bound delivery of all promises made by Rahul Gandhi during the assembly polls. Our government has waived loans worth Rs 11,000 crore, and 16.46 lakh farmers have benefitted from it,” he said.
“As far as popularity is concerned, Bhupesh Baghel is our CM as well as state president, and is very popular among the masses. The BJP lost the assembly elections because of Raman Singh’s unpopularity. Accusations of new scams against his close associates are now cropping up on a daily basis,” Tiwari added.
Independent view
Arun Upadhyay, editorial in-charge of the Raipur edition of Hindi daily Nai Duniya, said the Congress’ prospects have not deteriorated since the assembly polls.
“The Congress government has waived farmer loans and has also raised support price of rice. Even today, its main focus is on the farmers’ vote bank, and they also seem inclined towards it. The government has also halved the electricity bills of all classes, which may boost its prospects across all sections of voters,” Upadhyay said.
“The Congress is also promoting its NYAY scheme in a big way, and is trying to convince the middle-income families that money transferred via this scheme will better their lives,” he added.
“On the other hand, the BJP is campaigning about the Narendra Modi government’s schemes such as PM-KISAN and the Ujjwala Yojana. It is also reminding the voters about work done during Raman Singh’s tenure, as well as trying to gain sympathy because of the Naxal attacks on its leaders in Dantewada.”
For Baghel, the battle begins in Durg — his home town and the only seat that the Congress won in 2014. After that, anything his party wins is a gain and a loss for the BJP.
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