How BJP Defeated An Over-Confident Congress In Chhattisgarh? 5 Key Factors Behind Baghel-led Govt's Defeat

Chhattisgarh Assembly Polls 2023:  If any poll result has surprised the poll pundits so far, it is the Chhattisgarh mandate. As per the latest updates available on the Election Commission website, BJP is heading towards a glorious win with a lead on 55 out of the 90 total seats, whereas the principal opposition in the state, the Indian National Congress, is lagging with only a lead on 32 seats.

The results came as an unprecedented surprise to politicians and poll experts alike, as most of the exit polls were suggesting a win for the grand old party - the Congress. Here are the most important factors that led to a surprising saffron comeback in the eastern Indian state.

1. The Mahadev app controversy and corruption charges:

The past few months have been particularly hard for the Congress party and the man at the helm - Bhupesh Bhaghel in Chhattisgarh - as the opposition party BJP kept on hitting them with corruption charges. Things worsened as one of the accused in the Mahadev betting app case mentioned the Chief Minister as one of the beneficiaries of the scam. This gave the opposition an impetus to vehemently level the allegations of corruption on otherwise a clean image CM. Later, the arrival of the Enforcement Directorate on the scene made things harder for the incumbent CM.

2. Infighting at the highest rung:

Chhattisgarh witnessed a parallel narrative, with internal conflicts and a struggle for power between Baghel and TS Singh Deo potentially impacting the Congress. In the 2018 chief minister selection, Deo, a formidable candidate, lost out to Baghel despite being considered. To appease Deo's dissatisfaction, the party offered him the deputy CM position shortly before the elections.

3. The women voters and 'Sharab-Bandi' Promise:

Before the 2018 assembly elections, Congress made a significant pledge to ban liquor in the state, a promise explicitly outlined in its manifesto. Despite being in power for five years, the promised liquor ban was never implemented. Nonetheless, the Congress government had established a committee to monitor states where alcohol prohibition is already in effect, whose results will now be considered by the new party in power - the Bhartiya Janta Party.

4. Naxalism and Security Concerns:

The Baghel government failed to deliver anything concrete on the issue of Naxalism and kept on blaming failure on the Centre while taking the credit for any success themselves. Naxalism in Chhattisgarh is not only an election issue but a major problem. The unclear and ineffective policy of the Baghel government and negligence towards the security apparatus in Naxal-affected areas made the situation even more grim.

5. Anti-Incumbency:

Despite floating many schemes and promising newer ones, a comeback for Congress seems highly unlikely given what the stats are telling. Anti-incumbency has become a major hurdle in the Congress's way.