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Even though the Bhupesh Baghel government is facing at least four major investigations by the ED, the BJP finds the Mahadev scam to be its most potent weapon. (PTI)
Chhattisgarh election 2023: The BJP has been attacking Bhupesh Baghel on the issue of corruption, particularly the Mahadev betting app scam. The Chhattisgarh chief minister has been countering the campaign with announcements of cash benefits, loan waivers and a promise to implement a caste survey. But he has another crucial campaign plank – Lord Ram
It is Mahadev versus Ram in Chhattisgarh. Beyond the political metaphor, the second phase of Chhattisgarh election 2023 will actually see the Mahadev App betting scandal jostle for the spotlight against a combination of caste-cash-cow factors and temple politics. Seventy of the state’s 90 Assembly seats will go to polls on November 17.
With Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior leaders of the BJP sharpening their attack and mounting pressure on Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on the issue of multiple corruption cases, especially the Mahadev betting scam, the latter has been seen countering the allegation by highlighting the numerous cash doles.
Apart from the cash benefits, loan waivers and a promise to implement a caste survey, Baghel has another crucial campaign plank – Lord Ram.
“Ram is my aastha (belief). We do not do politics over our religious faith. We have constructed Kaushalya Mata temple, the tallest statue of Lord Ram, and the Van Gaman tourism circuit. Ram is part of our ancient culture, our tradition. We have, so far, built around 33 statues of Lord Ram across districts,” says Baghel in all his election speeches.
Countering the BJP’s corruption allegations on the Mahadev betting scam, the Chief Minister has said that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) did not investigate former chief minister Raman Singh, his wife and son, whose names allegedly cropped up in various corruption complaints. He has accused the central investigating agencies of being “selective” and “(politically) motivated”.
Caste, Cash, Cow
Unlike West Bengal and Karnataka where the BJP had certain election issues in hand to attack its political opponents, in Chhattisgarh, the Baghel government has got the primary campaign issue usually raised by the BJP covered. And that is the issue of religion.
In Bengal and Karnataka, the BJP had accused Mamata Banerjee, DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah of appeasement politics and acting as pro-Muslim/anti-Hindu politicians.
In Chhattisgarh, however, Baghel seems to have blunted the BJP’s sharpest political weapon. His narrative around Lord Ram and his government’s policy of constructing temples and statues, together with his initiative of protecting cows, building almost 300 sprawling cow-sheds and running a cow-economy by buying cowdung have left the BJP with no choice but play the corruption card.
Baghel’s promise to implement a caste survey and his way of bringing the OBCs at the fore is another political move which may get him electoral dividends in a state like Chhattisgarh where OBC vote share, according to a government survey, is close to 43%.
And over all, his party has announced at least five cash benefits and two loan waivers for farmers and self-help groups, making the Congress the party that has promised the maximum amount of financial assistance to a voter.
Modi’s Mahadev vs Baghel’s Ram
Even though the Baghel government is facing at least four major investigations by the ED — mining scam, liquor scam, paddy procurement scam and Mahadev online betting scam – the BJP finds the Mahadev scam to be its most potent weapon.
PM Modi, in his earlier speeches, said that Baghel’s government and his party did not spare Lord Mahadev as they supported the promoters of the online betting platform which allegedly defrauded people in the name of Mahadev.
In an election rally on Monday, the PM alleged that Baghel took Rs 500 crore or more from Mahadev betting app promoters and a stash of money has been recovered. Union Home Minister Amit Shah called Baghel the ‘ATM of Congress’. Modi also alleged that Baghel sent money to ‘Dilli Darbar’ (Congress headquarters).
Will the Mahadev betting scam resonate with the voters or will Baghel’s cash-cow-caste formula combined with Lord Ram pitch land the Congress another term? December 3 will tell.
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