” Raipur As assembly elections in Chhattisgarh draw near, a political duel within the Baghel clan has taken center stage. The BJP has thrown its weight behind Vijay Baghel by nominating him for the Patan seat which is the home constituency of chief minister Bhupesh Baghel. Patan’s significance is heightened due to it being the battleground where Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel himself locks horns. The BJP has strategically fielded Bhupesh Baghel’s nephew, Vijay Baghel, for this seat. State BJP President confidently predicts victory in Patan which did not go down well with Amarjeet Bhagat, a minister in the Chhattisgarh government, characterizes this contest as a confrontation between two powerful forces – a bull and a calf. Returning from Delhi last night, BJP state president Arun Sao stated that Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel might be compelled to reevaluate his position in Patan this election. Similar to Rahul Gandhi’s strategic retreat from Amethi to Wayanad in Kerala after anticipating an imminent defeat, Bhupesh Baghel could potentially explore contesting from a different constituency, considering the evident challenges in Patan, Sao said. With prospects seemingly dim in Patan, BJP envisions a historical victory against the Congress in the upcoming elections, even against the Chief Minister himself. Notably, Vijay Baghel has previously triumphed against their opponents. Responding to these developments, food and civil supplies minister Bhagat, a minister in the Chhattisgarh government, aptly analogized the situation as akin to placing a calf before a bull. Bhagat dismisses BJP’s candidate list as mere formality, expressing confidence that Congress remains unfazed. The incumbent government’s accomplishments render this list inconsequential, he asserts. State Congress President and Bastar MP Dipak Baij has drawn parallels to ‘baiting the goat’ with BJP’s release of a list featuring 21 candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections. He posits that BJP’s acknowledgment of its vulnerability on these 21 seats underscores the lack of substantial competition. Consequently, BJP’s decision to announce candidates for these constituencies seems more symbolic than strategic. The fate of BJP’s contender in Patan, according to Baij, will pivot on Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s popularity and his administration’s developmental strides.
