The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday criticised outgoing Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Deepak Baij, alleging that his three-year tenure ended without constituting a full-fledged state executive due to persistent factionalism within the Congress. Taking a jibe, BJP State Spokesperson Ujjwal Deepak claimed Baij failed to constitute the complete organisational structure, including vice-presidents, general secretaries and executive members. He alleged that internal rivalries had paralysed the party organisation throughout Baij’s tenure. Deepak claimed the Congress remained divided into camps led by former

 

Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, former Deputy Chief Minister T.S. Singh Deo and Leader of Opposition Dr Charan Das Mahant, alleging Baij became a helpless spectator amid competing factional interests and that the organisation turned into a “football” between rival camps. The BJP spokesperson further alleged that Congress witnessed a series of political setbacks under Baij’s leadership. He claimed the party lost power in the State Assembly, Baij himself lost the Chitrakot Assembly seat, Congress was reduced to a single Lok Sabha seat in Chhattisgarh and later suffered defeats in urban local body and panchayat elections. Claiming that the Congress continues to struggle with internal divisions, Deepak alleged that individual leaders were pursuing separate agendas, weakening the party’s organisational strength and public support.