FIGHTING A LONELY BATTLE

AHEAD OF THE CRUCIAL SECOND-PHASE POLLING, CHIEF MINISTER BHUPESH BAGHEL CHARTS OUT THE CONGRESS’S GAME PLAN WITH HIS TRUSTED AIDES

- Rahul Noronha

At his Civil Lines residence in Chhattisgarh capital Raipur, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel sits at the head of the largish dining table, awaiting his brunch. The 62-year-old is flanked by his top advisors-Vinod Verma and Rajesh Tiwari-and a visitor, Congress leader Rajeev Shukla. Minutes later, over local staples such as baati, white butter, chutneys and fruits, Team Baghel discusses plans for the crunch overs the last four days of campaigning. The second phase of polling for the remaining 70 seats out of the total of 90 is on November 17.

"All my life, my breakfast has been what I'm having today. It's election time, and my schedule has gone for a six. But in my youth, I went to the local lake for a bath, returned home to have breakfast served by my mother, and then went straight to the farms, only to return in the evening. Nothing has changed," says Baghel, wearing his 'Chhattisgarhiat' on his sleeve. The 'Chhattisgarhi' way of life is a critical part of the Congress campaign led by Baghel and was deployed apparently to counter the BJP's Hindutva pitch.