English हिन्दी
Connect with us

India News

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.

Published

on

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.

India News

Abhishek Banerjee says will not bow to BJP after nearly 11 hours of ED questioning

After spending nearly 11 hours before the Enforcement Directorate, TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee said he would not bow to the BJP and accused the ruling party of using investigative agencies for political purposes.

Published

on

Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday said he would not bow to the BJP after spending nearly 11 hours being questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an ongoing investigation.

Speaking after the questioning, Banerjee alleged that central agencies were being used to target opposition leaders and asserted that he would continue his political fight despite what he described as sustained pressure.

The TMC leader has repeatedly maintained that investigations involving him are politically motivated, a charge he has made on several previous occasions while appearing before central agencies.

His appearance before the ED comes amid a period of heightened political activity and multiple investigations involving leaders in West Bengal. Recent days have also seen Banerjee face summons and questioning in separate matters by state investigative agencies.

After leaving the ED office, Banerjee reiterated that he would not be intimidated and said he remained committed to his political responsibilities. He also accused the BJP of attempting to weaken opposition parties through investigative action, an allegation that the BJP has rejected in the past.

The Enforcement Directorate has not publicly commented on Banerjee’s remarks. The investigation related to the questioning remains ongoing.

Continue Reading

India News

DMK attacks Rahul Gandhi, accuses him of weakening opposition unity

DMK has intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the Congress leader’s actions have weakened opposition unity and strained relations within the INDIA bloc.

Published

on

Rahul-Gandhi

The war of words between the DMK and Congress has intensified, with the DMK launching a strong attack on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of contributing to divisions within the opposition alliance. The criticism comes amid strained ties between the two parties following their political split in Tamil Nadu.

According to the DMK, Rahul Gandhi’s political approach has weakened unity among opposition parties. The party’s IT wing mocked the Congress leader on social media, while an editorial published in the DMK’s official mouthpiece Murasoli questioned his recent remarks on opposition solidarity.

DMK questions Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on opposition unity

In its editorial, Murasoli argued that Rahul Gandhi was speaking about opposition unity despite, according to the DMK, contributing to disagreements among alliance partners in several states. The publication cited criticism directed at Congress by various opposition parties and suggested that the party’s actions had often created tensions within the INDIA bloc.

The editorial also referred to past political disputes involving Congress and Left parties, particularly in Kerala, claiming such episodes had raised concerns among opposition allies about Congress’s approach toward its partners.

Tamil Nadu political fallout adds to tensions

The attack comes after a major political realignment in Tamil Nadu. Following the 2026 Assembly elections, Congress ended its alliance with the DMK and joined the government led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The move left the DMK in the opposition and significantly altered the political equation between the two former allies.

The DMK has alleged that Congress benefited from the alliance during the election and later abandoned its partner. The party’s editorial questioned whether assurances from Congress leadership would be trusted by alliance partners after the developments in Tamil Nadu.

Congress rejects allegations

Congress has not issued a detailed official response to the editorial, but party sources have rejected the allegations. According to the party, its decisions in Tamil Nadu were made in line with the mandate delivered by voters and were not intended to undermine either the DMK or the broader opposition alliance.

The latest exchange highlights growing strains between two key opposition parties even as leaders continue to stress cooperation on national issues. Just days earlier, Rahul Gandhi had said that the DMK remained aligned with the opposition on defending the “idea of India” despite political differences.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Kumkum Bhagya actor Sanchita Ugale dies by suicide near Mumbai at 22

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, died by suicide at her residence near Mumbai. Police have launched an investigation.

Published

on

Sanchita Ugale

Television actor Sanchita Ugale, known for her appearances in Kumkum Bhagya, Wagle Ki Duniya and Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi, died by suicide at her residence in Nalasopara East near Mumbai on June 14. She was 22.

According to police officials, the incident took place at her home in Achole village, Nalasopara East. Authorities said Ugale had locked herself inside her bedroom and was later found hanging from a ceiling fan. Family members and local residents rushed her to a hospital, where doctors declared her dead.

Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR) and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Officials said inquiries are underway and the exact reason behind the incident has not yet been established.

Career across television, OTT and films

Ugale had built a growing presence in the entertainment industry through television, streaming projects and films. Apart from Kumkum Bhagya and Wagle Ki Duniya, she played a lead role in Dilwali Dulha Le Jayegi. She also appeared in OTT projects such as Crime Aaj Kal and Silence 2.

The actor was also associated with the film Chhaava, which contributed to her growing recognition among audiences.

Last social media post draws attention

Following news of her death, social media users shared and commented on Ugale’s final Instagram post, which had been uploaded hours before the incident. The post showed the actor in traditional attire lip-syncing to a classic Bollywood song. Fans expressed shock and grief after learning of her death.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com