Today in Politics: Modi-Rahul showdown in Chhattisgarh in shadow of ED allegation against Baghel

All eyes will therefore be on the parties’ public meetings in the state on Saturday. While Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will address a rally in Raigarh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Durg district in the morning. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, too, will be in Chhattisgarh, addressing two rallies in the Kabhirdham constituency.

Baghel, who remains the central figure for the Congress campaign, has responded to the accusation by calling it an attempt to tarnish his image and defame him. “In the name of the alleged investigation of Mahadev App, the ED first raided the houses of people close to me. On the basis of the statement of an unknown person, it has accused me of taking Rs 508 crore,” he said on X.

Jairam Ramesh, the Congress general secretary of communications, also took to X to say that the BJP was “frightened by the seemingly certain defeat in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan”.

The BJP was quick to demand Baghel’s resignation over the matter, saying it was “shameful” and that the CM had no right to stay in the post. On Thursday, the ED said it made seizures worth Rs 14.92 crore, including Rs 4.92 crore in cash in Raipur and Bhilai in connection with the case.

Earlier that day, Baghel alleged that the BJP might use the CRPF and the ED to influence voters.

Rumbles of discontent in INDIA

The discontent within the INDIA alliance of Opposition parties seems to be growing day by day, with leaders in the bloc publicly taking on each other. Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday accused the Congress of refusing to enter an alliance with it in Madhya Pradesh.

“As far as the alliance (in MP) is concerned, it was the Congress which refused to have one. The Congress says the SP is a casteist and dynastic party, then what is the difference between it and the BJP? They both speak the same language,” he said in Bhopal.

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury has also said that his party will not tie up with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal. Both parties are constituents of the alliance.

On October 31, National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah, another member of the alliance, commented on the “internal issues” of the Opposition bloc. “As you saw with the Samajwadi Party and Congress having had disagreements over UP, this is not good for the alliance. This isn’t good. I would hope that after these elections, we can all sit together and work together,” he said.

And on Friday, Abdullah reacted to Times Now Group Editor Navika Kumar’s tweet about recording a show with Madhya Pradesh Congress president Kamal Nath. “So much for a stupid list boycotting anchors. I’m glad it died its own death #INDIA,” he said, referring to the list of 14 TV anchors that the INDIA alliance had said it would boycott because of “hate-filled” news debates. Kumar was among the journalists on the list.

How things between these parties, particularly the SP and the Congress, unfold in the coming days will be something to watch out for as it will determine the shape the battle for the Lok Sabha takes.

In other election news

Modi will attend a public meeting in Ratlam in Madhya Pradesh in the afternoon. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will also make his way to the state for rallies in Balaghat and Dindori districts.

After months of speculation on the role she will assume within the BJP going forward, former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara said Friday at a rally in Jhalawar that she could retire now as her son and MP Dushyant Singh is involved in developmental work and on “the right path”. On Saturday, she is scheduled to file her nomination papers for the November 25 Assembly elections.

— With inputs from PTI