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Chhattisgarh elections: Raman Singh’s 3 mistakes that cost him in 2018 still cast a shadow

Himself without the taint of corruption, Singh didn’t act when his ministers ran riot.

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By Neeraj Mishra

It’s polling day tomorrow in Chhattisgarh and it will take former chief minister Dr Raman Singh to the same day five years ago when he lost his empire to the Congress. Politics is all about opportunities lost and opportunities snatched. Dr Raman Singh’s 15-year reign came to an end to what most people attribute as the anti-incumbency factor and Congress’ clever promise of paddy procurement at Rs 2,500 per quintal that swung the farm vote.

While that may be true, what Singh will probably rue most are the three crucial mistakes he made in power in the third term. There was no serious allegation of corruption against him personally and he remains popular till this day but his government had become corrupt and inefficient and you cannot sit over it and expect people to swallow the inadequacies of his administration. While corruption in itself was not a major issue in the 2018 campaign, people had had enough of Singh’s team.

So the first mistake was to succumb to the pressure of the business lobby. Brijmohan Agarwal, Amar Agarwal, Gaurishankar Agarwal and Rajesh Mudat were the most powerful ministers in his cabinet. They more or less did as they pleased and each one was involved in some scam or the other. Some proven, some mere allegations. From land to real estate, excise to mining, they controlled every bit of the monetary landscape. Ultimately, Singh was forced to use some trusted bureaucrats to counter their power. This brought on another calamity.

Some bureaucrats gained disproportionate power as happens almost everywhere. They remain behind the scenes so the ultimate loss was the BJP’s and Raman Singh’s. All the businessmen-turned-politicians lost in an upheaval, except Brijmohan, caused by dissatisfaction in the electorate with exploitation.

The Congress, and particularly Bhupesh Baghel, caught onto this theme smartly and over the next five years, Baghel built an aura of being “Chhattisgaria” and everyone else branded as outsider or pardesia. Today, the elections are being fought on farmer enticement and Chhattisgaria pride. Some of the losing businessmen politicians of the BJP have returned and may again cause some damage. Singh perhaps knows but not everything is now under his control.

Which brings us to the second big mistake Raman Singh made. He let go of a solid corruption case against a senior Congressman. This leader was involved in a scam in his department as minister in the Jogi government. Singh let the case be withdrawn by the state. Today, he must be kicking himself for it, since it ultimately led to his own downfall and the Congress’ return.

The third mistake Raman Singh made was to bring his son into active politics by making him contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. His son, Abhishek, is a warm, smart person but should have remained in the background, biding his time. This was also done against the advice of the then BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi, who frowned upon dynastic politics. Abhishek was denied a ticket in 2019 after his name came up in the Panama papers. Though nothing has been proved and the allegations have remained unsubstantiated, it brought down Raman Singh’s own standing within the party.

Tomorrow, Raman Singh and his party face the most crucial election of his life because after this he will not get another shot at anything in Chhattisgarh politics. If he loses, he will fade into the political horizon and if he wins, he will still have the opportunity to contest against political upstarts in his own party for the top job. The stage is set, the stakes are high and Raman Singh has his fingers crossed firmly.

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PM Modi says decline in TB incidence outcome of India’s dedication, innovation efforts

He acknowledged the dedicated healthcare workers of the Health Ministry, recognising their crucial role and commitment in the ongoing battle against tuberculosis.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that the decrease in tuberculosis (TB) incidence is a result of India’s dedicated and innovative efforts, asserting that the nation will continue to strive for a TB-free India through collective action.

His comments followed a statement from Health Minister J.P. Nadda, who highlighted that the World Health Organization (WHO) has acknowledged India’s “remarkable” progress, noting a 17.7% reduction in TB cases from 2015 to 2023—more than double the global decrease of 8.3%.

In a post on X, Modi praised the achievements by stating, “Commendable progress! The decline in TB incidence is an outcome of India’s dedicated and innovative efforts.” He reiterated the commitment to pursuing a TB-free India with a united approach.

BJP president and Union Health Minister JP Nadda also mentioned on Saturday that, “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, our government has expanded and strengthened the National TB Elimination Programme,” mentioning initiatives like the Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana, which provides essential nutritional support to TB patients, as well as the introduction of the BPALM regimen, a new treatment for Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis.

He acknowledged the dedicated healthcare workers of the Health Ministry, recognising their crucial role and commitment in the ongoing battle against tuberculosis.

“I also acknowledge the tireless efforts of the Health Ministry’s dedicated healthcare workers, whose unwavering commitment and hard work play a crucial role in this fight against tuberculosis,” Nadda said.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India has recorded a decline of 17.7 percent in TB incidence from 2015 to 2023. This rate is more than double the global decline of 8.3 per cent.

In a post on X on Saturday, Nadda emphasised that ṭhis acknowledgment reflects India’s transformative approach to TB care and control. He mentioned that the government has expanded and strengthened the National TB Elimination Programme by taking key initiatives such as the Ni-Kshay Poshan Yojana to provide essential nutritional support to TB patients.

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In Wayanad, Rahul Gandhi says protecting Constitution is India’s primary battle

He emphasised that such a mindset represents the kind of politics needed in India—not one of animosity but one of love and kindness.

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Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asserted on Sunday that the primary struggle in the country today is to safeguard and preserve the Constitution. He emphasised that the Constitution was crafted not from hatred but with humility and affection.

“The primary struggle taking place is for our Constitution. The greatness and protection we enjoy stem from it,” he stated during a corner meeting in Mananthavady, part of the campaign for his sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is contesting the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll.

Rahul explained that the Constitution was not born from anger or animosity but enacted by those who battled colonial rule, endured suffering, and spent many years in prison. They created the Constitution with love and humility, he added.

The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha emphasised that this struggle represents a fight between love and hatred. “It is a fight between confidence and insecurity. To prevail in this battle, we must eliminate anger and hatred from our hearts and replace them with love, humility, and compassion,” he added.

The former Congress president also reflected on his sister’s compassionate actions, sharing a poignant memory. “She is someone who embraced the girl implicated in my father’s assassination. When she returned from meeting Nalini, she expressed her sorrow for her,” he recalled.

He emphasised that such a mindset represents the kind of politics needed in India—not one of animosity but one of love and kindness.

During her campaign, Priyanka Gandhi took the opportunity to criticise the central government, claiming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is solely serving the interests of large business magnates.

“The Modi government prioritises his wealthy friends. Its agenda does not focus on improving your quality of life, creating jobs for educated youth, or enhancing healthcare and education,” she contended.

Priyanka continued her campaign activities by engaging in public and corner meetings alongside Rahul in the hilly constituency.

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Jammu & Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah condemns grenade attack near Sunday market in Srinagar

According to reports, at least six people were injured when terrorists threw a grenade in a crowded flea market in the heart of the city.

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on November 3 condemned the grenade attack near a busy Sunday market in Srinagar and said there could be no justification for targeting innocent civilians.

According to reports, at least six people were injured when terrorists threw a grenade in a crowded flea market in the heart of the city. The injured have been shifted to Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital (SMHS).

In a post on X, Abdullah said the last few days have been dominated by headlines of attacks and encounters in parts of the valley. “Today’s news of a grenade attack on innocent shoppers at the ‘Sunday market’ in Srinagar is deeply disturbing,” he added.

The security apparatus must do everything possible to end this spurt of attacks at the earliest so that people can go about their lives without any fear, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said.

The incident took place near the heavily guarded Tourist Reception Centre (TRC), occurring one day following the elimination of a top Pakistani commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) by security forces in the Khanyar locality of downtown Srinagar.

Authorities have dispatched police and paramilitary forces to the scene to evacuate the injured and initiate a search operation for the terrorists. The explosion triggered panic in the area, causing shoppers to scramble for cover.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Ravinder Sharma said that this was a conspiracy to disturb the atmosphere in the valley. Such incidents have increased ever since elections have been held and the new government has been formed, he claimed. He prayed for the well-being of those injured in the attack.

Calling for strict actions, the Congress leader said such attacks prove that the militancy is still there in the valley, adding the central government has the entire law and order and security apparatus in its hand.

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