In a rare debate, Baghel and Vijay Sharma spar over PM Awas Yojana in Chhattisgarh

In a rare instance of political one-upmanship, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel and incumbent Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Vijay Sharma held an open debate at the Raipur Press Club on the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana in the State. 

A format more commonly associated with Jawaharlal Nehru University’s presidential elections than with mainstream politics, the debate drew a packed hall of journalists and some spokespersons from either parties. Yet, for all the novelty of the setting and format, the charges and counter-charges were largely familiar, with both sides reiterating positions that had been heard before.

The crux of the debate was the action taken or lack thereof in their respective tenures — the Congress between 2018 and 2023 and the BJP from December 2023 till date — on the implementation of the central housing scheme for the poor. 

The Deputy CM claimed that the BJP government had completed 11.51 lakh houses under PM Awas Yojana in two-and-a-half years and recently received approval for another 3.65 lakh. He accused the previous Congress government of failing to utilise available opportunities, including a 7.81-lakh-house target in 2021-22. 

Mr. Baghel contested this and said around 11 lakh houses were built in Chhattisgarh under the scheme when the scheme was launched in 2015 until the end of his government’s tenure in 2023. While he also questioned the BJP’s claim of approving 18 lakh houses and sought details of an additional 10 lakh announced by Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Mr. Sharma clarified that the 18-lakh figure represented a construction commitment, not central sanctions. 

At one point, Mr. Baghel even said that if his government failed to get the houses constructed, the people had punished his party in the elections. 

Earlier, the face off was initiated after Mr. Sharma challenged Mr Baghel for a debate and the latter agreed to join. 

The debate continued for well over an hour, often got heated and was followed by a clash between supporters of the two participants outside the main hall. Later, there was chest thumping on social media with social handles of both parties selectively using edited clips from the debate. 

There have been multiple instances of leaders throwing an open debate challenge to opponents but here was one instance where date, time and venue was decided and both leaders walked the walk. 

The debate ended inconclusively but veteran journalists in attendance at the press club said it was “historical” in the State due to its nature and profile of the participants.