Election heats up as political parties begin to engage in

 

 

As the election fervor intensifies in Chhattisgarh, the Congress party has unleashed a barrage of promises, initiating with the loan waiver for farmers by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Subsequently, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi announced a slew of schemes and subsidies. The Congress, in its quest to retain power in the state, is embarking on an announcement spree of freebies. In contrast, the BJP is yet to reveal its list of election freebies, possibly in a bid to counter the Congress or due to the perception of strong anti-incumbency against the incumbent Congress government. The battle in Chhattisgarh primarily revolves around the BJP and Bhupesh Baghel, with election analysts noting the BJP's struggle to contend with Baghel as the face of the election.

 

Corruption looms as a significant issue for the people, affecting both major parties. Some officials and business figures linked to the Congress regime currently find themselves in legal trouble due to alleged scams and corruption. However, the BJP's attempts to exploit this issue haven't resonated well with voters, who perceive both major parties as sharing a platform when it comes to corruption. When the BJP raises concerns about corruption in Congress, the Congress counters with allegations from the fifteen years of BJP rule. On the matter of corruption, neither party seems to gain favor with the electorate, according to a poll pundit. In Chhattisgarh, elections are unfolding in two phases, with most assembly constituencies witnessing a direct face-off between the Congress and the BJP, with a few exceptions. The third constituent, Janata Congress (Jogi), and AAP, though unlikely to secure victory, could sway votes, potentially affecting the probability of victory for either Congress or BJP candidates in several seats.

 

This election appears poised to offer more freebies than previous contests, but the absence of a clear development vision is conspicuous. There's a notable lack of emphasis on job creation for the youth, and even the highly debated issue of liquor ban has taken a backseat in the election discourse. Analysts urge voters to press political parties for their development agendas, emphasizing that until voters demand such clarity, parties may continue to prioritize freebies over comprehensive policy discussions, which they argue is not conducive to good politics, stated Prabhakaran R Nair, a social analyst.