CG Lok Sabha Election 2024: In Chhattisgarh, Congress played its bet on three leaders who were targeted by ED.

State Bureau, Raipur. Chhattisgarh Lok Sabha Election 2024: Congress faces a mountain of challenges in Chhattisgarh for the Lok Sabha elections. On one hand, while BJP is making the corruption of the previous Congress government an election issue and is attacking Congress over the investigation and actions of the Central Enforcement Directorate (ED), on the other hand, Congress has also fielded the leaders who were the target of ED. Elections have been made challenging. Congress’s argument in the matter is that allegations can be leveled against anyone but unless someone is considered guilty, these things cannot have any impact.

Let us tell you that Congress has given the reins of elections on three out of 11 seats in the state to the leaders who have come under scanner in corruption cases. Among these, after ED’s investigation in the Mahadev online betting app case against former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who was made a candidate from Rajnandgaon, EOW has filed an FIR and started investigation. At the same time, former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma, accused in the alleged liquor scam, is also contesting elections from Bastar.

Not only this, Congress has also made Bhilai MLA Devendra Singh Yadav, accused in the famous coal scam case, its candidate for Lok Sabha elections from Bilaspur. According to political experts, Congress will have to counter BJP’s allegations regarding all the allegations of corruption, because in the assembly elections also, BJP was successful in ousting Bhupesh’s government from power by making corruption an issue.

Coal scam is a big issue in the state

Coal scam has been a big issue in the state. According to ED, Rs 25 has been recovered per tonne in transportation of coal. In this, collusion between politicians, officials and businessmen has come to light. In this case, ED has registered a case against 70 people after bringing the fact of coal scam of Rs 540 crore. This includes the names of Congress MLA Devendra Yadav, Congress leader Vinod Tiwari, Congress state spokesperson RP Singh, former MLA Chandradev Rai, former Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand, State Administrative Service officer Soumya Chaurasia, IAS Ranu Sahu and IAS Sameer Bishnoi.

Congress leaders also under siege in liquor scam

An alleged liquor scam worth Rs 2,161 crore has also come to light in the ED investigation in the state. This includes the names of former Excise Minister Kawasi Lakhma, former Minister Amarjeet Bhagat, former Congress MLA UD Minj, retired IAS Anil Tuteja, former Chief Secretary Vivek Dhand, businessman Anbar Dhebar and other IAS-IPS officers.

There are allegations, they have no effect

Chhattisgarh Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister TS Singhdev said, allegations have no impact in politics. Former Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh was also accused of Naan scam after his name appeared in the Naan Diary. Recently, a case had also come to light against Surguja’s BJP candidate Chintamani Maharaj. There are cases against many candidates but no one is found guilty in the investigation. Right now, whoever is in power can do whatever he wants, but since there are allegations and no one is guilty, it will have no impact on the elections.

Corruption is an issue in the state

Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Arun Sao said, there was corruption for five years in the previous Congress government. Continuous actions have also been taken in these. Many people have also gone to jail. This is not just an allegation, this has been exposed by the central agencies themselves. Those who have been jailed have not been granted bail yet. Certainly corruption is an issue in the Lok Sabha elections also and the public is also concerned about it.