Q/ Your government is into the final year of its tenure. What are your biggest achievements?
A/ Our biggest achievement is that we have been able to convince the people of Chhattisgarh that this is their state. This feeling of ownership was lacking for 18 years since the formation of the state. The people had a feeling of alienation towards the government. I am happy that we could remove this feeling and make people sense their democratic power.
Q/ You have covered more than 50 assembly constituencies under the ‘Bhent-Mulaqat’ initiative. What are the key issues you noticed?
A/ Economic self-reliance has increased in villages. Rural people are more confident and farmers’ trust on farming has revived. Women have become stronger. During our interactions in villages, it is the women who retain the mikes for the longest time. When they stand up and put across their views confidently, I feel that our policies and schemes are successful. Change in the lives of women is the indicator of societal change. In general, I am getting very good feedback on all the schemes. People demand more bank branches and paddy purchase centres in or near their villages. Such demands are indicative of rising prosperity.
Q/ You have won multiple bypolls, but incumbents often fail to do well in subsequent assembly polls.
A/ We did not win consecutive bypolls because we are in power, but because people have expressed faith in our policies and schemes. In these four years, people have experienced that there is no difference between our talk and action. We promised that our government would prioritise work for the welfare of the deprived sections and people saw how the lives of farmers, rural folk, women, tribal people, labourers and artisans have changed. They also saw how excellent systems in the education and health sectors are established at par for all. In the assembly polls, too, people will vote for us for our work. What the BJP could not do in the past 15 years, we did in four years.
Q/ You say your target is to maintain the current Congress MLA count in 2023.
A/ We will perform better than last time.
Q/ There were reports that an internal survey showed poor performance by 40 per cent of your MLAs and you asked them to introspect and improve.
A/ I am the leader of the Congress legislative party. I am the team leader and it is my responsibility to motivate the team. Introspection and improvement are constant processes. The success of the team is dependent on collective energy, collective confidence and a collective sense of responsibility. I myself keep introspecting and improving. As for the 2023 polls, the decision to give or deny tickets is a matter of organisational decision.
Q/ The BJP accuses your government of many things such as corruption, failure to keep election promises, poor law and order, fanning anti-majority communalism and pushing the state into debt.
A/ It is the job of the BJP to keep accusing us. We have replied to each one of the accusations, either through the media or in the assembly. I have always said that factual questions are welcome. But when the BJP does not have facts, it resorts to rumour-mongering. Now less than a year is left for assembly elections, so their rumour-mongering is only gaining momentum. Actually, BJP politics is about spreading rumours and hate in the entire country.
Q/ Senior officers―some linked to your office―have been arrested on corruption charges.
A/ Whatever is happening, the people of Chhattisgarh are also watching and understanding. The entire country knows how the BJP-led government makes political use of Central agencies. My image and my government’s image are made by our work.
Q/ The BJP may be counting on the ‘differences’ between you and minister T.S. Singh Deo.
A/ T.S. Singh Deo ji is our senior minister and a senior Congress leader. There are no differences of any kind between us. As for the BJP, its plan of breaking up the Congress will never fructify.
Q/ You said the Narayanpur communal violence was a political conspiracy of the BJP.
A/ Playing the communal card is nothing new for the BJP, but in Chhattisgarh this card never worked. During the past four years, the BJP tried it many times, but the citizens here always managed to defeat its schemes. The people of Chhattisgarh believe in peace, love and harmony―this is the local culture. Since the BJP has never been linked to the roots of Chhattisgarh, it keeps on forgetting that its fake nationalism will never work with our people. Despite this, if the BJP tries to use its traditional ploys, it should be prepared to face defeat once again.
Spiritual high: On January 7, Baghel travelled to Rajim, a holy city located about 50km from Raipur, to inaugurate a 25ft-tall Ram idol.
Q/ Is your promotion of ‘Chhattisgarhi identity pride’ a way to counter the ‘nationalistic/communal’ agenda of the BJP?
A/ Chhattisgarh’s pride and fake nationalism of the BJP are two totally different things. Only a Chhattisgarhia can understand the pride, self-respect and dignity of the state. This is an issue linked to the dreams of our ancestors. This is the foundation of the formation of separate Chhattisgarh. The matter of regret is that for 18 years after the formation of the state, the dreams of Chhattisgarh people could not be realised. They were forced to live with a feeling of alienation in their own state. When the Congress promised to establish ‘Nava (new) Chhattisgarh’, it was a promise to fulfill those dreams of our ancestors.
Q/ What are the strong and weak points of the BJP as an electoral opponent?
A/ In Chhattisgarh, the BJP and its leaders have been totally unmasked. Farmers, tribals and rural people have understood well as to how the BJP fooled them for 15 years. People are also seeing the work of the Congress. They are witnessing the difference in the ethics and intentions [between the BJP and the Congress].
Q/ Despite the big win in the assembly polls, the Congress got only two MPs from Chhattisgarh.
A/ There is a huge difference in the situation then and now. This difference is at the national level and the state level, too. Doubtlessly, the atmosphere today is far stronger in favour of Congress policies. We will perform better in the Lok Sabha polls as well.
Q/ You have always said that over Rs30,000 crore belonging to Chhattisgarh is pending with the Central government. The BJP, however, accuses you of burdening the state with huge debt.
A/ I have cited data several times as to under what heads should we get funds from the Centre. Recently, while making suggestions for the Union budget for 2023-24, I have once again made a request to release pending funds to Chhattisgarh. Replying to BJP allegations during budget discussion last year, I mentioned that we inherited 50 per cent of the current debt from the BJP government. We have to take loans because the Central government forces us to do so.
Q/ How do you plan to resolve the issue of caste-based reservation, given the reluctance of the governor to sign the relevant bills and the Supreme Court’s stand on 50 per cent bar on total reservation?
A/ I still trust the governor to sign the bills, because she herself comes from the deprived sections. She must understand their struggle and the necessity of the bills passed unanimously by the state assembly. However, I feel that the BJP is trying to influence her.
Q/ Do you feel the Bharat Jodo Yatra will help in improving Congress’s poll performances?
A/ Rahul ji’s Bharat Jodo Yatra is a campaign against hatred. Doubtlessly, positivity has increased in the social atmosphere of the state because of the yatra. When positivity increases in society, the parties engaging in positive politics will certainly benefit. The yatra has nothing to do with elections, but it will certainly lead to the strengthening of Congress ideology.
Q/ Do you see any chance of a Congress comeback in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls?
A/ The Congress will certainly make a comeback.
Q/ Are you looking at a national role for yourself in the future?
A/ I think I am better off in Chhattisgarh. I have complied with any orders that the organisation has given me. I will do the same in future.