"Chhattisgarh's public has always put faith in Congress": Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel

Durg (Chhattisgarh): Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday said that the public in the state has always shown faith in the Congress party and will continue to do so.

Speaking to reporters in Durg, Bhupesh Baghel said, "They (BJP) haven't promised anything to the public of Chhattisgarh. They know that the public of Chhattisgarh is not going to trust their guarantees. The public here has always put faith in Congress and the Congress government led by Bhupesh Baghel."

The Chief Minister appeared to be confident of forming the government again and about the party's chances in Durg district. Baghel himself is contesting from Patan in Durg and filed his nomination papers today. In 2018 the Congress won 11 of the 12 assembly seats in the district.

"Durg has always been the stronghold for Congress...They (BJP) haven't promised anything to the public of Chhattisagrh. They know that the public of Chhattisagrh is not going to trust their guarantees. Trust is bestowed upon Congress...and the (Congress) government's leader Bhupesh Baghel" the Chief Minister said after filing his nomination papers.

Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda took a jibe at the Bhupesh Baghel government in Chhattisgarh on Sunday, saying that the state has been under 'Grahan' (eclipse) in the last five years and it is time to get it removed.

"There was a lunar eclipse last night, but there has been an eclipse in Chhattisgarh for the last five years and now the time has come to get it removed," Nadda said while addressing a public meeting in Thelkadih village in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon district.

Nadda said that the Bhupesh Baghel government is deeply immersed in corruption and is the only government that has deceived the public.

"Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's government is deeply immersed in corruption, due to which public welfare and development work have come to a standstill. Whatever promises the Congress Party made to the public remained unfulfilled. Bhupesh Baghel's government is the only government that deceives the public," Nadda said.

Chhattisgarh is scheduled to hold polls in two phases on November 7 and 17. The counting of votes will take place on December 3 in all five poll-bound states. The Model Code of Conduct has come into force with the announcement of poll dates. Earlier in the 2018 assembly polls, the Congress witnessed a landslide victory, winning 68 seats out of 90 of those against the then-ruling BJP, which acquired 15 seats.

The Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party are the key players in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Telangana is expected to witness a triangular contest between the ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi, Congress and BJP.

The BJP aims to wrest power from the Congress-ruled state, which is expected to set the tone for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha polls. (ANI)