Hours before Chhattisgarh assembly elections, state Congress vice president Ghanaram Sahu resigns

Congress state vice president Ghanaram Sahu resigned from the party on the eve of elections on Sunday.

Updated on: Nov 11, 2018, 23:31:43 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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Hours before the first phase of Chhattisgarh assembly elections, state Congress vice president Ghanaram Sahu today announced his resignation from the party, alleging harassment by state unit chief Bhupesh Baghel

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi interacts with the people at Madanpur village chaupal, in Korba, Chhattisgarh on June 15. (HT File Photo/Representative image)

Sahu is the second senior leader to quit the party ahead of the 2018 Chhattisgarh assembly election. Earlier this month, the party’s state working president and tribal leader Ramdayal Uike had resigned to join the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). While Sahu did not state his future plans, he is also likely to join the BJP.

“The BJP knows that they are losing the elections, thus this type of trading of leaders is going on. We have seen earlier the Ramdayal Uike episode and now Sahu is the second leader who fell into the BJP’s trap,” said Congress communication head and spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Trivedi.

BJP spokesperson Sanjay Shrivastava said that people are fed-up with internal politics of Congress and joining his party.

“The ethical and moral value of Congress has gone down in Chhattisgarh. Congress leaders and people are fed-up with the party. Secondly, we are winning, hence many Congress leaders are joining the BJP,” Shrivastava added.

In his resignation letter to Baghel, Sahu accused him of mental harassment due to personal animosity, reported ANI.

Sahu, who hails from the Durg district and had thrice been an MLA from the area when it was still part of undivided Madhya Pradesh, was reportedly unhappy at not being fielded in the current polls. He unsuccessfully contested from the Gundardehi constituency in the district in the 2008 assembly election.

Polling will be held in 18 seats spread across eight Maoist-affected districts of the state Monday, while the remaining seats in the 90-member assembly will vote on November 20. The BJP, headed by chief minister Raman Singh, is eyeing a fourth straight term in the tribal-dominated state as the opposition Congress seeks to return to power after 15 years.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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