TS said no because he knows Cong won’t fulfil promises: BJP

Raipur: The BJP tried to corner the ruling Congress on deputy CM T S Singhdeo’s statement that he would not be part of the Congress manifesto committee this time, triggering a sharp retort by Congress.The BJP said that Singhdeo “does not want to be humiliated again”. “Taking a cue from the bitter experience of being chairman of the manifesto committee in 2018, Singhdeo has decided to stay away from it out of self-respect. Singhdeo had to resign from the panchayat department after the Congress government failed to provide housing under PMAY, and the government didn’t ban liquor despite taking a pledge. Singhdeo’s decision shows that he has no faith in the party,” state BJP state spokesperson Kedar Gupta said at a press conference.The BJP spokesperson stated that Singhdeo knows very well that the Congress will not fulfil its promises if it forms the government, and that is why he distanced himself from the manifesto committee.Singhdeo’s appointment as deputy CM suggests factionalism in Congress is intensifying, he said, claiming that state Congress is split between the Baghel and Singhdeo factions.Gupta also criticized the state government over the alleged liquor scam and demanded the resignation of excise minister Kawasi Lakhma. “The minister has neither spoken about this issue nor has the CM removed him, despite the fact that the court has repeatedly denied bail to those involved in the liquor scam,” he said.Reacting to the BJP charge, Congress communication head Sushil Anand Shukla said that Singhdeo has said that he will not be the chairman of the manifesto committee so that new people can get the opportunity.“The Congress is yet to announce its manifesto committee. Singhdeo may be a member,” he said. On the charge of factionalism, he said: “It suits the BJP very well, and it can be seen from the fact that the Union home minister is on a whirlwind tour of Chhattisgarh to mend the cracks in the party since he has no faith in the state leadership.”He alleged that the enforcement directorate (ED) has “fabricated” the liquor scam. “The real liquor scam, worth Rs 44,000 crore, occurred during the Raman Singh government,” he said.