Baghel v/s Baghel In Chhattisgarh: BJP Appoints Head Of Manifesto Committee To Leverage Old Family Rivalry

As the Congress capitalizes on the schemes introduced by its Bhupesh Baghel-led government in Chhattisgarh, the BJP is seeking to leverage an old Baghel family rivalry to kickstart its campaign.

Durg MP Vijay Baghel, a distant nephew of CM Baghel, has been appointed by the BJP as the head of its manifesto committee, leading a group of 30 leaders.

Although Vijay Baghel was associated with the Congress until 2000, he switched to the BJP, and both the uncle and nephew have faced each other twice in Assembly battles—in 2008 and 2013—each winning once. After losing in 2013, Vijay Baghel moved on to the Parliament.

The 63-year-old, who identifies himself as an agriculturist, stated that the BJP manifesto will prioritize farmers since Chhattisgarh is known as "Dhan ka katora" (a bowl of rice).

He added that they will make promises they can keep, unlike the Congress, which failed to fulfill its manifesto commitments. After farmers, the party will focus on laborers, education, health, sports, and art.

The Congress and BJP have engaged in a war of words regarding paddy procurement, with the Baghel government encouraging farmers to grow more rice and pressuring the Centre for increased procurement.

During a rally in Raipur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Baghel government of lying about paddy procurement and stated that "the Central government purchased 80per cent of the paddy from the state."

Vijay mentioned that the BJP manifesto team of 31 members will hold meetings with people from different castes, communities, women, students, unions, traders, farmers, journalists, and government servants. He also mentioned that a WhatsApp number will be provided for people to provide feedback on the BJP manifesto, including through social media.

While the Congress is yet to release its manifesto, the Baghel government has already made announcements such as raising the paddy procurement limit at the minimum support price (MSP) from 15 quintals per acre to 20.

Regarding the challenge posed by the Congress, particularly Bhupesh Baghel, who is the face of their campaign, Vijay stated that Bhupesh was one of the reasons he left the Congress to join the BJP. He mentioned that the Congress was full of lies, and Bhupesh had excessive pride and ego.

Vijay further highlighted his victory in the municipal elections as an independent candidate in Bhilai Charoda against the Congress and BJP candidates, despite Bhupesh campaigning for the party candidate.

Vijay expressed his inspiration from Atal Bihari Vajpayee and stated that the BJP is a party that provides opportunities for every worker to rise. He emphasized that even someone like him, who started as an MLA, then became an MP, is now in charge of preparing the party's manifesto.

Vijay's win in 2008 on a BJP ticket from Patan town in Durg district against Bhupesh Baghel was by a margin of 6.37 per cent votes. However, in 2013, Bhupesh defeated him with a slightly higher margin.

As an MP, Vijay has been a member of the Standing Committee on Water Resources and part of a consultative committee in the Ministry of Steel.