Reacting to the boycott, Finance Minister O.P. Choudhary said the Congress was “a sinking ship” and asserted that the BJP government would move ahead responsibly. Addressing the House, Choudhary described Vision 2047 as a concrete roadmap to make Chhattisgarh a developed state by the centenary year of India’s independence. He said the document was prepared after consultations with nearly one lakh people from different sections of society.
Highlighting the broader national context, the finance minister said India has already emerged as the world’s third-largest economy and could reach a $64 trillion economy by 2047. He added that Chhattisgarh’s vision focuses on reducing inflation, poverty and unemployment, improving infant mortality indicators, and accelerating growth in agriculture, industry and the services sector.
Former minister and BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar welcomed the initiative but raised concerns over its content. He said the Assembly must first clearly define the framework and process of debating such vision documents. While congratulating the chief minister and finance minister, Chandrakar questioned the foundation of the 2047 vision and called for an honest assessment of past policy failures. He remarked that the ‘Nava Anjor’ vision document appeared to focus largely on education and health, while lacking a clear reflection of Chhattisgarh in the industrial policy. He also flagged issues related to the condition of rice mills and said the concept of “Make in Chhattisgarh” needed stronger emphasis.
The four-day session will continue till December 17. Law and order, paddy procurement, electricity, land rates and road conditions are expected to dominate debates from December 15 onward. Legislators have submitted 628 questions, and the government is also likely to introduce a bill to amend the state’s religious freedom law, potentially making religious conversion procedures more stringent.
Officials expect the new Assembly complex to remain the centre of intense debate and political activity throughout the session.
