Baghel set for 2nd consecutive term in C’garh: People’s Pulse
Cong comfortably placed in Chhattisgarh as people are happy with CM’s performance
Incumbent Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and the Congress party are sitting pretty for a second consecutive term in Chhattisgarh largely due to his performance in the first term. In fact, it is for this reason that arch-rival BJP has failed to build any kind of narrative against Baghel or the Congress party.
Further BJP, which was hoping hard to wrest power in the State, was severely handicapped by infighting, failure to project a leader in State and worse Central leadership literally taking control of the State unit to the point that the latter has begun to lack identity.
According to a pre-poll survey conducted by People’s Pulse, a research organisation, Congress is set to retain power by getting 55 to 60 seats. BJP will get 28 to 34 seats while BSP and Independents will get a couple of seats. Chhattisgarh has a 90-member Assembly and therefore the magic figure is 46. This time, the contest is likely to be mainly between INC and BJP and INC is likely to get a majority on its own. BJP is fighting well on a seat-by-seat basis so most of the tough tight seats may turn towards BJP where the margin between the two parties is less than one per cent.
Other regional parties like Gondwana Gantantra Parishad (GGP) lost influence. The recently launched Hamar Raj Party, backed by Sarv Adivasi Samaj, is also more or less a spoiler this time though it is likely to get considerable votes, especially in Bastar region. Another sub-regionalist party launched by Chhattisgarh Kranti Sena has no concrete influence in any region.
Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (Jogi) founded by ex CM late Ajit Jogi contested the 2018 election in alliance with BSP and got 7 seats (BSP 2 and JCC 5). However, both have weakened over time and JCC is no longer a political challenge after the death of Ajit Jogi. This time, only BSP is likely to get 0 to 2 seats while JCC is likely to get 0 seats. Like last time, Aam Aadmi Party is likely to get zero seats in this election. According to the survey, Congress’ vote share would increase from 43 in 2018 to 47 per cent.
