Three frontline leaders of Congress in Chhattisgarh are in ‘constant touch’ with BJP central leadership to execute a meticulously planned strategy of the saffron party to either field weak candidates in at least nine to twelve seats or create a mutiny within the party to allow the BJP a free run in assembly polls next month.
The BJP has also strongly advised the Rs Congress friends’ to work out an idea similar to 2014 Antagarh assembly bypoll in which Congress candidate pulled out from contest hours before voting, allowing the BJP a complete walkover.
Two out of the three Congress leaders who have developed ‘excellent rapport’ with the BJP in recent weeks, have also found names in the powerful Core Committee constituted on October 11 by Congress president Rahul Gandhi for Chhattisgarh. Congress has already lost its working president Ramdayal Uike to the BJP on Oct 13.
The three leaders, each one belongs to SC, ST and OBC categories, have been offering all kind of possible help to the BJP to achieve its 65-plus seats target in a 90-member assembly polls scheduled in two phases next month. The BJP is using recorded detailed telephonic conversation of the three Congress leaders as Rs bargaining chip’ to facilitate its wish to push through weak candidates in nearly a dozen seats mainly in Bastar and Surguja regions.
Two of three Congress leaders are also ready to walk into BJP fold if needed but they have been strictly advised to stay put in Congress but follow the BJP’s command. Interestingly, none of the three is aware about each other’s Rs secret pact’ with the BJP. Chhattisgarh has a rich culture of Rs below the belt politics’ ahead of assembly polls which first began from state’s maiden assembly polls in 2003 when country was rocked by Rs cash-on-camera’ scam involving BJP veteran and then union minister of state for environment and forests late Dilip Singh Judeo when Ajit Jogi-led Congress was in power in Chhattisgarh.
Chhattisgarh is known for innovations in politics and in the most recent case, the CBI charge-sheeted Chhattisgarh Congress President Bhupesh Baghel late last month for his alleged role in a sleaze CD in which Chhattisgarh government’s PWD Minister Rajesh Munat has been filmed in a compromising position. Baghel spent a few days in Raipur central jail in the case and presently on bail to lead Congress poll campaign.
India’s grand old party Congress is credited to be the inventor of Rs politics of inducement and intimidation’ for decades to win elections in states but now it is getting a taste of its own medicine in Chhattisgarh. Chhattisgarh was shamed in September 2014 during by-poll for Scheduled Tribe reserved Antagarh assembly seat in Kanker district when Congress official candidate Manturam Pawar pulled out from election in support of the rival BJP candidate Bhojraj Naag hours before voting.
The move of the Congress candidate had shocked entire state and intellectuals had described the case Rs a slur on democracy’. Later an audio tape surfaced on public domain that presented a classic case how a faction of the Congress worked hand in glove with the ruling BJP to ensure a thumping win for the BJP candidate.
The embarrassed Congress had then suspended its high profile MLA Amit Jogi for allegedly fixing Antagarh by-poll through a financial deal with the BJP.
