Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections 2023: The main issues for voters are...
In 2018, the Congress' election promise of a farm loan waiver and a hike in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy was a major game changer. It will be a major issue in 2023 as well.
Because of the increase in violence between Adivasi Christians and non-Christians, a faction has formed that is angry with both major parties. In some tribal constituencies, this might be a big electoral issue.
The demand for a 27 per cent quota for the Other Backward Class (OBC) people is a big issue in the upcoming elections in Chhattisgarh.
Unemployment is another issue that will have an impact in 2023. The Chhattisgarh government has recently approved a monthly grant of Rs 2500 for unemployed youths, and the initiative is gaining traction.
Corruption in the form of the Rs 2000 crore liquor scam and the coal extortion scandal involving CM Bhupesh Baghel's deputy secretary, is likely to affect the polls in Chhattisgarh.
The BJP has accused the Congress government of failing to prioritise infrastructure and road construction projects in the state during the last five years, resulting in deteriorating infrastructure.
The Congress is putting forward its pro-poor welfare programmes of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, and the BJP is trying to welcoming back disgruntled members while recruiting new faces with its parivartan yatras.
With the reopening of hundreds of schools in Bastar that were previously damaged by Maoist warfare, Congress will advocate for more such projects in the near future, as good education is always a key demand in elections.
Jal-Jungle-Jameen is a long-standing focus for tribal areas in Chhattisgarh, spanning both the southern Bastar and the northern Surguja regions.