The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): Disputing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assertion of crossing ‘400 seats’, Bhupesh Baghel, a prominent figure in Congress, labeled the claim as unsubstantial during his Tuesday remarks. He indicated that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) focus on the Ram temple would unlikely sway the forthcoming Lok Sabha election results. Baghel, who previously led Chhattisgarh, voiced his certainty in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) securing a majority to establish the next central government. He also anticipated a significant victory for Congress in over half of Chhattisgarh’s Lok Sabha constituencies.
In his conversation with PTI, Baghel discussed the stability of the INDIA coalition despite defections and solo endeavors by key regional leaders, highlighting the addition of influential figures like Uddhav Thackeray and Prakash Ambedkar, thereby signaling a robust alliance. He underscored the visible strains within the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, citing internal conflicts and dissatisfaction among its members regarding electoral arrangements.
Addressing claims of a northern India Ram temple wave and BJP’s campaign rhetoric, Baghel dismissed the effectiveness of such strategies in influencing the electoral outcome. He confidently negated any perceived electoral risks in contesting from Rajnandgaon, a BJP stronghold, banking on historical precedence and current political dynamics.
Furthermore, Baghel critiqued the BJP’s lack of a palpable wave in its favor, indicated by the withdrawal of nominations by its candidates and the need for strategic alliances. He criticized the timing of Bharat Ratna awards and the Supreme Court’s electoral bonds ruling, pointing to these as evidence of BJP’s apprehensions and alleged corruption.
Baghel emphasized the significance of the electoral bonds scandal as a focal point for opposition critique, associating it with a breach of the prime minister’s anti-corruption stance. He also refuted allegations against him in the Mahadev online betting scandal as politically motivated, aimed at tarnishing his image in anticipation of electoral defeat, while highlighting his proactive measures against such illegal activities.