Congress’ First List of Candidates Likely to be Revealed on October 15 in Chhattisgarh

Raipur: As Chhattisgarh emerges from the Pitru Paksh (ancestral worship period), the Congress party is gearing up to potentially unveil its first list of candidates for the upcoming elections on October 15. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has expressed optimism about the release of this crucial list, affirming that it will not be made public until after the conclusion of Pitru Paksh. The anticipation surrounds the Central Election Committee meeting, which convened in Delhi on Thursday. During this meeting, discussions revolved around the selection of candidates for both the first and second phases of the elections. Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel addressed the media on the matter before departing for Delhi. In response to the distribution of tickets within the BJP, Baghel criticized individuals who claim affiliation with the cadre-based party but, in his view, are merely exploiting the cadre’s name for the sake of securing votes. He highlighted that despite the BJP’s 15 years in power, they have yet to make a significant impact on 15 seats. Baghel emphasized that the same familiar faces from the past have returned, failing to bring about the change that was anticipated. The meeting held at the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) office on October 10 saw the participation of key figures, including Pradesh in-charge Kumarisailja, Deepak Baij, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, TS Singhdeo, and Charandas Mahant. This meeting is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the party’s electoral strategy. In a significant turn of events, news broke about a theft at the residence of an Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer. The incident has revealed a considerable amount of stolen property, but as of yet, no official report has been filed regarding the exact losses incurred. Chief Minister Baghel emphasized the importance of filing a comprehensive report on the incident. As the BJP prepares its second list of candidates, Baghel noted that fear seems to be driving their ticket distribution. He highlighted that despite their claim to have ‘looted’ Chhattisgarh earlier, the Science College hall remained underfilled. With the upcoming elections in Chhattisgarh, a peculiar twist in the political narrative has emerged, often referred to as ‘candy crush politics.’ The BJP posted a photo of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel playing a game on his mobile phone during the Congress’s screening committee meeting. In response to this, Baghel questioned whether indulging in entertainment is considered a crime. Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Raman Singh emphasized that the Model Code of Conduct is now in effect, suggesting that political games with ulterior motives should not be played.