Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee President Deepak Baij alleged that the BJP government has failed to manage internal affairs and that Bilaspur is currently witnessing the highest level of factionalism within the party. He claimed that senior leaders are being continuously ignored, and the Chief Minister’s program in Bilaspur has been decided to balance internal dissatisfaction.
Traditionally, under the BJP government, the Chief Minister has taken the Republic Day parade salute in Jagdalpur of Bastar division, while the Governor remains the chief guest in the state capital Raipur. This marks the first instance during BJP rule that the Chief Minister has chosen Bilaspur instead of Jagdalpur. However, during the Congress regime after the formation of Chhattisgarh state, former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi hoisted the national flag in Bilaspur from 2001 to 2003.
This year, three senior BJP MLAs from Bilaspur district—former minister Amar Agrawal, Bilha MLA and former Assembly Speaker Dharamlal Kaushik, and Takhatpur MLA Dharamjit Singh—have not been given the opportunity to hoist the national flag on Republic Day. This has intensified discontent and speculation within the BJP, with party insiders attributing it to internal factionalism and power struggles.
Congress state president Deepak Baij further alleged that senior leader Amar Agrawal was neither made a minister nor given due respect in party programs. He claimed that in several foundation-laying and inauguration events, the names of senior leaders were missing from invitation cards, leading to disputes. According to Baij, the Chief Minister’s Bilaspur visit has been finalized under organizational pressure to control internal unrest within the party.
Recent controversies during BJP events in Bilaspur have further added to the party’s troubles. Amar Agrawal’s dissatisfaction over seating arrangements during a youth festival became public, forcing the Chief Minister to intervene. Additionally, the last-minute cancellation of an Urban Administration Department program in Sakri also stirred political controversy.
All eyes are now on the Chief Minister’s January 26 program to see whether it helps ease internal factionalism within the BJP or further intensifies political tension.
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