Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who addressed a poll rally in Jagdalpur, lambasted Bhupesh Baghel-led Chhattisgarh government, saying the Congress government promotes the liquor business, while the BJP government focuses on education.
" In the last 9 years, the Modi govt developed roads, provided gas cylinders, constructed toilets, Eklavya schools and also gave 5kg rice to every person in a household per month for free. What did you do Bhupesh babu? You opened liquor shops, indulged in many scams including Rs 540 crore coal transportation scam, Rs 1300 crore scam in Gothan scheme and Mahadev app scam..Baghel sharm karo, sharm karo," said Shah in Jagdalpur,
He is scheduled to address one more rally in Bastar division, a key electoral battleground.
The region will undergo voting in the first phase of elections on November 7. Shah's visit marks his second trip to the Congress-ruled state since the election schedule was announced. Amit Shah, who formerly served as the BJP president and is known for his election strategy prowess, had previously addressed an election rally in Rajnandgaon on October 16. His presence underscores the significance of the state to the BJP as they seek to secure an electoral victory.
Itinerary details
Amit Shah is slated to arrive at the Maa Danteshwari Airport in Jagdalpur from New Delhi shortly after noon, according to a BJP representative. He will attend a public meeting and nomination rally at Lalbagh Maidan in Jagdalpur, followed by an election meeting and nomination rally at the Police Ground in Kondagaon. Both Jagdalpur and Kondagaon are located in the Naxal-affected Bastar division.
Electoral landscape
In the first phase of polling, voters in 20 assembly segments will cast their votes. These include Konta, Bijapur, Dantewada, Chitrakot, Jagdalpur, Bastar, Narayanpur, Kondagaon, Keshkal, Kanker, Bhanupratappur, Antagarh, Mohla-Manpur, Khujji, Dongargaon, Rajnandgaon, Dongargarh, Khairagarh, Kawardha, and Pandariya. The remaining 70 seats will be part of the second phase.
Candidates and parties
The Congress party has declared candidates for 83 out of the 90 seats, given their ruling status in the state. Meanwhile, the opposition BJP has announced candidates for 86 seats, including all 20 that will see voting in the first phase. In the previous elections in 2018, the Congress achieved a significant victory, securing 68 out of 90 seats. The BJP, which had held power in the state for 15 years from 2003 to 2018, managed to secure just 5 seats. The JCC (J) and the BSP secured 5 and 2 seats, respectively, marking the current strength of the Congress in the assembly at 71. The upcoming elections will determine whether the political landscape in Chhattisgarh undergoes a significant change.
Also read | Chhattisgarh Election: BJP declares Bhavna Bohra as candidate from Pandariya seat
