Senior Congress chief and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel is contesting the Lok Sabha election from the Rajnandgaon constituency, which has been a bastion of the ruling BJP. On the eve of the polling in Rajnandgaon within the second section Friday, In an interview with The Indian Categorical, Baghel speaks on numerous points associated to the polls together with the Congress’s prospects and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s marketing campaign. Excerpts:
*Your marketing campaign has simply ended. How do you discover the temper of the folks of Rajnandgaon?
There are extra rural voters within the constituency as in comparison with city voters. Rural voters are firmly behind the Congress.
*What points did you increase in your final election marketing campaign speech at Pandariya?
I slammed the BJP over the electoral bonds concern as individuals are unable to digest the truth that they took tons of of crores by way of the scheme from beef producers and playing corporations. The BJP, which talks of Hindutva, purchased their flags and banners utilizing such cash. They’ve additionally extorted businessmen.
I additionally spoke of the nice works like cow dung procurement and vermicompost manufacturing that was initiated by the Congress and has now been stopped by the BJP. Lakhs of households, which relied on the schemes, have been affected by this.
*What number of seats is the Congress assured of successful in Chhattisgarh?
We are going to win at the least six or seven (of the 11 seats within the state).
*What do you need to say about Prime Minister Modi’s current speeches in Chhattisgarh, the place he slammed the Congress manifesto?
Modiji’s self-belief is shaken and therefore he’s talking garbage concerning the manifesto. It’s clear from his speeches that he has nothing worthwhile to say. He has nothing to supply to the nation and solely abuses the Congress and the Gandhi-Nehru household.
*Deputy CM Vijay Sharma claims you insulted safety forces by terming the current encounter in Kanker, the place 29 Maoists had been killed, as “faux”.
I mentioned complaints of pretend encounters had been obtained after the BJP authorities took over. The Kanker encounter happened after I made this assertion. However he took my assertion and linked it to the encounter. It was an act of bravery by our forces and I’m joyful that we didn’t undergo any casualties. He should not make such statements whereas holding the workplace of deputy CM. It’s a low-level factor to do.