Excessive turnout in Chhattisgarh election as incumbent Congress faces stiff problem from BJP

The concluding spherical of the two-phase State meeting election in Chhattisgarh witnessed a voter turnout of 68.18 per cent on Friday, November 17. A complete of 958 candidates, together with political heavyweights like incumbent Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, his deputy T.S. Singh Deo, eight State ministers, and 4 Members of Parliament, contested for 70 seats within the 90-member Chhattisgarh Meeting.

The polling for the primary part was held on November 7 for 20 constituencies, throughout which many villages within the Bastar area, recognized for the presence of Naxals, voted for the primary time since India’s independence. The outcomes are scheduled to be introduced on December 3.

Within the last part, the Dhamtari district recorded the best voter turnout at 79.89 per cent, whereas the Raipur district noticed the bottom voter turnout at 58.83 per cent, based on the Election Fee. On the Bilbhadar polling station in Sihawa Meeting constituency in Dhamtari district, a specifically designated tribal polling station was arrange for the susceptible Kamar tribal group. A jawan of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) was killed in a blast triggered reportedly by Naxals within the Gariaband district when a polling group escorted by safety personnel was returning after the voting concluded.

Chhattisgarh has been witnessing a fierce contest between the incumbent Congress and the BJP. The high-decibel marketing campaign for the second part noticed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Residence Minister Amit Shah, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, amongst different BJP leaders, together with social gathering’s nationwide president J.P. Nadda, attacking incumbent Chief Minister Baghel over alleged corruption costs associated to the Mahadev betting app row, the rise in spiritual conversions, and Naxal violence. The Congress’ star campaigners for the election included Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, amongst others.

Additionally Learn | Battle for the margins: The high-pitched marketing campaign for tribal votes in Hindi heartland

Though the State Congress, which was voted to energy in 2018 after 15 years of BJP rule, has been taking part in the Hindu card, and has promised a caste census to counter the BJP’s Hindutva ideology, the BJP leaders throughout public rallies accused the Congress of anti-Hindu bias and appeasement politics. The BJP manifesto, labelled as “Modi Ki Assure”, has promised to take the folks of the State on a go to to the Ram temple, which is being constructed in Ayodhya, if the social gathering wrestles energy from the Baghel-led authorities.

Curiously, the Congress has pledged to offer free wooden for cremation in city areas if it wins the election. Political analysts imagine that is the primary time a political social gathering has made such a promise in its election manifesto.

Populist battle

As campaigning for the second part of the election drew to an in depth, each the Congress and the BJP unleashed a barrage of populist guarantees, protecting voters busy calculating the potential direct money and different advantages on supply. A comparative evaluation of the manifestos and bulletins of the Congress and the BJP revealed that the Congress has outdone the BJP by way of profitable affords in its bid to garner votes, elevating critical issues in regards to the potential detrimental affect on the State’s exchequer and monetary planning.

Whereas the BJP has promised a direct money switch of Rs 12,000 per yr to all married ladies (ladies make up practically 50 per cent of the voters in Chhattisgarh), the Congress has upped the ante by saying an quantity of Rs 15,000 to each lady who has attained the age of 18, suggesting that this promise might be a game-changer. Congress leaders have emphasised of their rallies that each “Maa, beti, aur behan (mom, daughter, and sister)” might avail of this profit if the Congress retains energy after the election. The BJP, nevertheless, has countered with a suggestion of Rs 1.5 lakh for new child ladies from households beneath the poverty line.

Additionally Learn | Is that this Mandal 2.0?

Amongst different commitments, the Congress has additionally introduced 200 models of free electrical energy monthly to all households. Nevertheless, the BJP has not provided something on this entrance. In distinction to the BJP’s promise of free well being providers as much as Rs 10 lakh for Chhattisgarh residents, the Congress supply has no such ceiling, and has prolonged free well being care even within the case of accidents underneath the Chief Minister’s Particular Well being Help Scheme. Each events have promised centres for subsidised medicines.

The Congress has promised a one-time farm-loan waiver that will value round Rs 9,500 crore. It has additionally provided a mortgage waiver of practically Rs 9,000 crore for Self Assist Teams, which embody 20-25 lakh ladies.

The election marketing campaign has additionally witnessed a fierce competitors between the Congress and BJP to woo low-income teams. The Congress has made extra engaging guarantees for the procurement of paddy and different minor forest produce, focusing on a major inhabitants of farmers and tribals. Whereas the BJP has pledged an annual quantity of Rs 10,000 to landless farmers, the Congress has countered with an equal supply underneath the Rajiv Gandhi Landless Farmer Labourers Justice Scheme.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel waits to forged his vote for the AState Meeting election in his native village Kuruddih, Durg District on November 17, 2023
| Photograph Credit score:
PTI

The BJP has introduced free schooling from kindergarten to post-graduation, whereas the Congress has prolonged this promise to incorporate college students in greater and technical schooling. In an additional try to outshine the Congress, each events have pledged to offer a cooking gasoline cylinder for Rs 500 if voted to energy.

In response to the BJP’s guarantees, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel taunted the social gathering, stating on social media that, “Until two days in the past, the BJP was terming as freebies whoever promised the identical issues. They’ve made among the guarantees made by us.”

Additionally Learn | Chhattisgarh election: Spectacular turnout in first part amid tight safety

Curiously, in the course of the second part of campaigning, Residence Minister Amit Shah declined to answer Baghel’s invitation to debate the achievements of the Congress-led State authorities. Baghel had posted {a photograph} displaying a black couch bearing the 2 leaders’ names, together with the message, “Please inform me the date and time…”

Political analysts imagine that the efficiency of the Modi authorities on the centre and Baghel in Chattisgarh usually are not main points on this election. “This election appears to be all about whether or not you name it freebies or welfarism, relying upon which revenue group you belong to. All different points appear to have been pushed to the margins,” mentioned Sunil Kumar, Editor, Every day Chhattisgarh. He added, “The Congress guarantees, most of that are with none caveat not like the BJP, appear extra engaging and it’s probably to offer an edge to the social gathering’s candidates”.