The next Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh are more than two years away. Yet political activity in the state is already beginning to take on an unmistakably electoral character. From organisational restructuring to constituency level outreach and booth management, both major parties have quietly begun laying the groundwork for the upcoming Assembly elections.
Both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition Congress have started strengthening their organisational networks and fine-tuning strategies for the 2028 contest. While the BJP is focusing on consolidating its position and recovering ground in constituencies it lost in the last election, the Congress is working to rebuild its organisation and position itself for a return to power.
For the BJP, particular attention is being paid to the 36 Assembly seats where the party was defeated in the 2023 elections. Senior party leaders believe that these constituencies could play a decisive role in shaping the outcome of the next electoral battle and have begun drawing up constituency specific strategies well in advance.
As part of its strategy, the BJP has activated both its organisational machinery and leaders holding positions in various government bodies. Chairpersons and office-bearers of corporations, boards and commissions have been tasked with strengthening the party’s outreach in different regions, while efforts are underway to reinforce its network down to the booth level.
Sources within the party say detailed assessments of booth-wise performance are being undertaken, with organisational units categorising booths and reviewing local political dynamics. The objective is to identify weaknesses, improve voter outreach and build a stronger electoral network before the next election cycle gains momentum.
BJP state president Kiran Singh Deo said that the party’s organisational culture has always been centred on continuous political engagement rather than election specific mobilisation. According to him, preparations for the next election begin as soon as the previous one concludes. He said that the BJP functions throughout the year and treats elections as part of an ongoing political process rather than a standalone event.
The Congress, meanwhile, has also stepped up efforts to strengthen its grassroots structure. Through its ongoing organisational outreach and restructuring initiatives, the party is attempting to energise workers at the district, block and booth levels. The party leaders argue that the political situation in the state could change significantly over the next two years and maintain that public opinion remains fluid. The party believes that issues related to governance, public welfare and local administration will shape voter preferences by the time the next election arrives.
Congress communication department chairman Sushil Anand Shukla said the party is working to strengthen its organisational base and reconnect with voters across the state. He asserted that regardless of the BJP’s preparations, the electorate would ultimately judge the government’s performance and take its decision accordingly.
The contrasting claims underline the confidence being projected by both political camps. While the BJP sees an opportunity to expand its footprint and improve its performance in constituencies it previously lost, the Congress is attempting to build a narrative centred on political resurgence and a return to government.
Although the 2028 Assembly election remains a distant prospect, both parties appear determined not to lose time. The BJP is focused on reclaiming lost ground, while the Congress is concentrating on organisational rebuilding and voter outreach.
Senior journalist Awadhesh Mishra believes that the political landscape can undergo significant changes before the next Assembly election. “Much can change over the next two years, and political fortunes are rarely static,” Mishra said. What stands out at this stage is the seriousness with which both parties have begun preparing for the next electoral contest. There is a growing recognition that elections are not won in the final few months before polling, but through sustained groundwork over several years. In Chhattisgarh, both the BJP and the Congress appear keen to begin that exercise well ahead of time.