Congress moves no-confidence motion against Sai govt, BJP hits back in Chhattisgarh Assembly

The Chhattisgarh Assembly witnessed a political showdown with the Congress moving a no-confidence motion against the Vishnu Deo Sai government on the final day of the Monsoon Session. The discussion quickly turned into an exchange of sharp accusations and counter-accusations, with both the Opposition and the treasury benches defending their respective records. Leader of the Opposition Charan Das Mahant opened the debate, while senior BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar led the government’s response.

Initiating the discussion, Mahant presented a 136-point chargesheet against the BJP government. He described it as a record of broken public trust and administrative failures during its 136 weeks in office. Stating that the Congress takes decisions through consensus, he maintained that the no-confidence motion had become necessary because the government had failed farmers, tribals, women and youth. Every week of the government’s tenure had been marked by decisions that worked against public interest.

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Mahant alleged that the government had ignored tribal rights and environmental concerns by allowing tree felling in the Hasdeo forest. He claimed the process had begun even before the new cabinet assumed office and described Hasdeo as the “lungs of central India”. Referring to the 2022 Assembly resolution on coal blocks, he alleged that tribal interests had been sacrificed in favour of mining activities. He also questioned the investigation into the felling of the Jaitkhamb associated with Guru Ghasidas and alleged that the administration had failed to respond despite public concern.

The Congress leader also attacked the government on its law and order record, citing incidents of rape, murder and attacks on complainants. He claimed that crime had risen across the state and accused the state government of failing to protect women and vulnerable communities and criticised the handling of MGNREGA, Panchayat works and welfare programmes, alleging that development activities initiated during the previous Congress government had been stalled.

Mahant further questioned the state’s development priorities, alleging that agriculture had been pushed behind industry and services while tribal communities in mining areas continued to face displacement. He raised concerns over paddy procurement, illegal land transactions linked to the Bharatmala project, school rationalisation, teacher shortages, vacant posts in hospitals and the condition of higher education institutions. He also alleged that women were struggling because of microfinance loans, criticised liquor sales, and claimed environmental damage from mining and industrial pollution, affecting local communities. While congratulating security forces for operations against Maoists, he said innocent tribals should also receive justice.

The debate briefly turned contentious after Mahant quoted a poem by late poet Sant Pawan Diwan referring to parbuddhi. Finance Ministers O.P. Choudhary and BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar objected to the reference, prompting Mahant to clarify that he was quoting the poet’s words and not expressing his own opinion.

Earlier, Chandrakar had remarked that it was the first time in the Assembly’s 25-year history that a Leader of the Opposition himself had moved a no-confidence motion. In a lighter vein, he suggested that perhaps the Opposition no longer trusted its own members enough to present the motion.

Replying to the debate, senior BJP MLA Chandrakar dismissed the motion as lacking substance and said an Opposition that merely completed a political formality could not effectively function as a watchdog. Turning the focus on the previous Congress government, he referred to issues including the PSC recruitment controversy, the Bharatmala land acquisition case, liquor-related matters, electricity duty concessions, cess utilisation and several welfare schemes. He also questioned the Congress over reservation, housing, governance and internal political decisions, while defending the functioning of the present BJP government.

Chandrakar said that the Chhattisgarh government under the leadership of CM Sai, had fulfilled its commitment to provide houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, expanding railway infrastructure, opening medical colleges, strengthening skill development initiatives and bringing stricter laws against religious conversion. He also said that the state is moving towards implementing a Uniform Civil Code. While the Congress maintained that the state government had lost the confidence of the people, the BJP insisted that the no-confidence motion lacked merit and failed to make a convincing case.