On Thursday, July 28, 2022, the State Legislative Assembly defeated the no-confidence resolution put up by the opposition BJP against the Congress government in Chhattisgarh, where Assembly elections are scheduled for next year, by voice vote.
The no-confidence motion was the subject of a contentious debate in the House during which the opposition members attacked the Congress government for its “infighting,” alleged corruption, and failure to keep election promises. The ruling party rejected the accusations, claiming the opposition had failed to identify any specific problem.
During the 13-hour discussion on the resolution, which was lost by a voice vote after midnight, the BJP presented an 84-point “charge sheet” against the State administration.
Before the proposal was lost, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel reacted to the discussion. Dharam Lal Kaushik, the leader of the opposition, presented the charge sheet before the House.
Singh Deo’s Departure
Brijmohan Agrawal, a prominent member of the BJP, started the discussion by criticizing the Congress administration and asserting that the no-trust motion was presented since a minister had already voiced his lack of faith in Chief Minister Baghel.
He asserted that neither the Cabinet members nor the administration had faith in the government.
“How come the chief minister didn’t fire that minister? The CM lacks the necessary bravery. Even the minister lacked bravery and preferred to remain with the Cabinet, “Agrawal said.
He was referring to Minister T.S.Singh Deo, who announced his resignation from the Panchayat and Rural Development department—one of his four portfolios—on July 16 after feeling marginalized.
In a four-page letter to the Chief Minister, Mr. Singh Deo gave several justifications for why he was unable to meet departmental objectives by the Jan Ghoshna Patra (the election manifesto’s) vision, and he expressed displeasure over the lack of execution.
Throughout the current monsoon session of the Assembly, Mr. Singh Deo was not present.
Mr. Agrawal asserted that due to bad financial management, the state was drowning in a debt of 1.75 lakh crore.
Mr. Agrawal argued that the State government took 18 lakh dwellings from the poor, to which they were entitled under the Prime Minister Aawas Yojana (PMAY) since money under the state’s share was not supplied for the project. He cited accusations made by the Minister in his letter to the CM.
He said that the Panchayat Department’s activities were approved by a committee under the direction of the Chief Secretary despite it being against the Rule of Business.
He questioned, “How can officials endorse the things that a minister has approved?
Additionally, he made various accusations against the administration.
Despite participating in at least 10 discussions on the vote of no confidence, Mr. Agrawal claimed that despite being a member of the Assembly for 33 years, he had never experienced this level of interruption.
Chhattisgarh Achievements listed by Congress
Chhattisgarh Congress chairman and MLA Mohan Markam denied the accusations, claiming that the State government has carried out 30 of its 36 election pledges over the previous three and a half years.
He listed the accomplishments of the administration and said that the Congress government had erased farmer debts and given 2,500 per quintal to farmers in exchange for buying their paddy at a support price.
He asserted that the Chhattisgarh unemployment rate had greatly decreased.
He said that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP engaged in the practice of separating the populace and society.
According to Ravindra Choubey, the minister of agriculture, public trust in the Congress administration has increased as a result of the administration keeping its promises.
The Income Tax authorities allegedly conducted searches at the offices of a coal merchant who is linked to the governing party and other individuals, and discovered unlawful money collection on coal transportation in the state, according to the BJP’s charge sheet.
The IT said in a news statement following searches that coal mafias are thriving in the state and that unfair collection totaling hundreds or billions of rupees took place over the previous three years with the government’s protection.
The BJP made further claims of fraud in several state government programs and offices. The treasury benches criticized BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar for saying that the holiday designated on the day honoring indigenous peoples was driven by politics. The Congress MLAs asked Mr. Chandrakar for an apology after saying that his comments were offensive to tribal people.
Additionally, CM Baghel said that Chandrakar had made several remarks disparaging Kawasi Lakhma, a member of his cabinet, and demonstrating disrespect for the tribal population.
Regarding the chair’s request, Mr. Chandrakar stated that he sincerely regrets any damage caused by whatever comment he made either within or outside the House.
