Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who single-handedly led the Congress to a stunning victory in BJP’s bastion of Chhattisgarh in late 2018, claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s regime was a big let-down for people who have now great hope from the Congress.
He claimed that the Congress would throw up a surprise results in April-May parliamentary polls across the country.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has failed to deliver, he failed to keep his prime poll promises such as providing employment, weeding out black money and dealing with farm distress. His entire regime was a big let-down,’’ the 57-year-old politician told The Pioneer in an interview.
He said “the Congress handed over a humiliating defeat to the BJP just in November assembly polls in Chhattisgarh, where it was in power for 15 years. Now the saffron party will meet the same fate in parliamentary polls in my state as well as at the national level’’.
He claimed that the BJP which had been winning 10 out of the total 11 seats in Chhattisgarh for past two general elections, would not even open an account this time in the mineral rich state.
“Congress was written off for 90-member assembly polls held in November in Chhattisgarh, everybody was saying the BJP would be surely winning for the fourth time but then the results came as a shocker for political pundits as Congress walked away with record 68 seats. I believe the parliamentary polls will produce similar results in Chhattisgarh and elsewhere in the country,’’ he remarked.
Baghel, who belongs to the OBC community which makes up half of state’s over 2.55 crore population, described Congress president Rahul Gandhi “an immensely talented person who is perfectly able to lead the country as the next prime minister”.
Swept to power on farm loan waiver promise and imposing a total prohibition in the state, where drinkers contribute heavily to state’s GDP, he reiterated his commitment of strongly dealing with agrarian distress, which he described as Rs a legacy of 15-year-long misrule of corrupt BJP regime led by Dr Raman Singh’
Rs Rs I waived-off Rs 6100 crore farm loan within hours of taking oath as chief minister on December 17, 2018, the minimum support price on per quintal paddy procurement has been raised to a record Rs 2,500 and I will definitely go for total prohibition in the state but only after taking people into confidence,’’ said Baghel, who is described as a smart politician.
He strongly rejected accusations that his Congress government would go Rs soft’ on Naxal front and offensives against the leftist militants would be slowed down.
“This is entirely untrue, troopers will carry on anti-Naxal drive vigorously but I will not allow anyone to harass innocent civilians in name of Naxal operation, Chhattisgarh government will strive to win people’s confidence in Naxal-hit area,’’ Baghel said.
He added that his Government was committed to the welfare of tribals in conflict zone and make them believe that State Government listen to them.
