Chhattisgarh Assembly session adjourned sine-die after 14-hour-long debate on No Confidence Motion

Raipur, July 18 (IANS) The Chhattisgarh Assembly witnessed one of its most dramatic and marathon sessions as the Congress moved a no-confidence motion against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.

The debate, which began at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, July 17, 2026, stretched into the early hours of the next day, finally concluding at 2:45 a.m. on Saturday, July 18, 2026. After more than 14 hours of heated exchanges, the motion was defeated by voice vote, and the House was adjourned sine die, marking the end of the monsoon session.

The House, which convened at 11:00 a.m. under Speaker Dr Raman Singh, witnessed intense questioning on rice distribution, ration cards, e-KYC issues, and the Mahatari Vandan Yojana. Proceedings turned chaotic, leading to the Congress walkout around 11:39 a.m. The House was later adjourned sine die, with the Speaker announcing the next sitting date in the second week of December.

The session began with listed questions on the availability and distribution of rice under central and state pools.

Congress MLA Sheshraj Harbansh grilled Food Minister Dayaldas Baghel on the status of Antyodaya, priority, and other ration cards. She pointed to 57.25 lakh central cards and 25.76 lakh state cards, questioning the rationale behind the state’s extra 25.36 lakh additional families and the financial burden of Rs 136.35 crore on the state exchequer.

Minister Baghel detailed distribution norms: 35 kg for Antyodaya families, 10-20 kg slabs for priority households under NFSA, and clarified that central supplies are adequate. Harbansh and others highlighted mismatches in BPL figures and excess state cards despite central coverage.

Leader of the Opposition Dr Charan Das Mahant sharply questioned the number of families that have crossed the poverty line and Chhattisgarh’s share in the national 80 crore NFSA beneficiaries. He accused the government of turning the poor into “rich” on paper while failing to deliver.

The minister promised further data on families above the poverty line.

Congress MLA Sushant Shukla raised issues regarding stock verification and shortages in ration shops of the Beltara constituency from April 2025 to March 2026. He alleged irregularities, prompting the minister to table annexures while admitting some complaints.

Discussions also covered sugar and other commodity supplies.

On paddy procurement, Congress MLA Neelkanth Tekam sought details for the Keshkal constituency.

The minister informed the House that 32 purchase centres are operational, with two new proposals under active consideration after scrutiny.

Opposition leader Charan Das Mahant spearheaded the attack, alleging that the BJP had betrayed the trust of the people and failed to deliver on promises made during the elections. He argued that the government’s policies had left farmers burdened, tribals marginalised, and youth disillusioned.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, however, mounted a spirited defence. He dismissed the motion as “hollow, baseless, and politically motivated,” asserting that the BJP government had fulfilled its commitments. He highlighted achievements such as paddy procurement at Rs 3,100 per quintal, disbursement of Rs 3,716 crore in bonuses to farmers, and significant expansion of irrigation facilities.

Sai declared that the BJP was not only stable but poised to govern Chhattisgarh for the next 25 years, framing the motion as an attack on the people’s mandate rather than on his government. The debate was marked by fiery exchanges and frequent uproar.

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma’s remarks triggered sharp protests from the Opposition, leading to noisy interruptions and heated arguments across the floor.

The most contentious debate erupted over the flagship Mahatari Vandan Yojana.

Congress MLA Umesh Patel questioned Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Rajwade on eligibility, exclusions, and e-KYC pendency. Out of 70.27 lakh applications, around 68.54 lakh women were receiving benefits as of June 2026. Patel highlighted a discrepancy of approximately 1.55 lakh beneficiaries post the first instalment and pressed on 27,050 post-instalment exclusions.

He criticised the e-KYC mandate, noting over one lakh women (roughly 0.2-0.25% according to the minister) were affected due to technical issues, deaths, age mismatches, and Aadhaar problems. The minister clarified that exclusions were due to ineligibility, not solely e-KYC, and extended the deadline to July 30.

Patel demanded exact reasons and timelines for portal reopening for new and pending applications.

Opposition members repeatedly alleged data fudging, implementation failures, and inadequate responses.

The Speaker adjourned the House sine die after the protests, declaring the date for the next sitting in the second week of December.

The day’s proceedings underscored deep divisions over food security, PDS efficiency, and social welfare delivery in the state.

The Congress, though vocal and persistent, could not muster the numbers required to challenge the government’s majority. The defeat reaffirmed the BJP’s dominance in the House and its ability to withstand opposition pressure.

–IANS

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