Chhattisgarh Congress leader’s comments on PM Modi draw CM fire: ‘If he has courage, attack me first’

Mahant’s comments drew a sharp reaction from Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, who posted on X, “The Congress mindset thinks of hitting Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a stick."

Mahant, a former Union minister, also trained his guns on the BJP, saying that if people bring the party to power, there may not be voting in the future. (Facebook/ Dr Charan Das Mahant)

Former Chhattisgarh assembly speaker and the current leader of opposition in the state, Congress’s Charan Das Mahant, Tuesday said a “stick wielding” person who can “break Modi’s head” is needed to take on the Prime Minister.

He was campaigning for Congress leader and former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, who is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from the Rajnandgaon seat.

Speaking in Chhattisgarhi and sharing the stage with Baghel, Mahant said, “You need him to stand up for farmers, youngsters, women. A protector is needed who wields a stick (lathi). Narendra Modi ke khilaf agar koi lathi dhar ke khade ho sakat hai to tuhare sansad khade ho sakat hai. Hamala lathi dharaiya aadmi chahiye… Narendra Modi ke mur phoraiya aadmi chahiye… aur raat din tang karke ihala China bhejne wala aadmi chahiye (If there is someone who can stand against Modi with a lathi, it is this Parliamentarian (Baghel). We need a stick wielding man. Someone who can break Modi’s head. Someone who can trouble him day and night and send him to China.”

Mahant’s comments drew a sharp reaction from Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, who posted on X, “The Congress mindset thinks of hitting Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a stick. I am telling you, I am Modi’s family (parivar). If you have the courage, hit me first.”

Defending Mahant, Chhattisgarh Congress communications wing head Sushil Anand Shukla said, “Mahant ji did not talk about attacking Modi ji but to fight Modi ji politically with the same strength. But BJP has no issues left… So they are twisting comments…”

Mahant, a former Union minister, also trained his guns on the BJP, saying that if people bring the party to power, there may not be polls in the future. “This fight is neither Baghel’s fight nor mine nor of any other Congress candidates… This is your fight for your children and their future,” he said.

Mahant also attempted to woo the audience with a song: “Hum toh tere aashiq hain sadiyo purane… chahe tu maane chahe na maane.”

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Baghel faces a tough task as BJP won the seat with a margin of more than a lakh votes during the 2019 elections. The party has, in fact, maintained a 1 lakh-plus margin in the past three consecutive elections.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had won nine out of the 11 seats while Congress won two. Elections in Chhattisgarh will take place in three phases, and the Rajnandgaon seat will go to polls in the second phase on April 26. The third phase will be on May 7 when Sarguja, Korba, Raigarh, Janjgir-Champa, Bilaspur, Durg and Raipur will go to polls. The lone seat of Bastar will go to polls in the first phase on April 19.

Jayprakash S Naidu

Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India. Expertise and Experience Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of: Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages. Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states. Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering: Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements. Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law. Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in: Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel. Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India. Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More

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