In a rare debate, Baghel and Vijay Sharma spar over PM Awas Yojana in Chhattisgarh
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.
In an unprecedented political debate, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and current Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma clashed over the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in the state. The debate, held at the Raipur Press Club, diverged from the normative setting of university presidential elections, attracting a large audience of journalists and party representatives.
Both leaders reaffirmed their respective claims regarding the housing scheme's progress during their tenures. Baghel contended that the BJP government had only built 11.51 lakh houses in two-and-a-half years, while Sharma claimed 18 lakh houses under construction commitments. The debate touched on past unfulfilled promises, with Baghel asserting his party's election losses were a consequence of failed housing targets.
The heated exchange outside the main hall and subsequent social media fallout reflected the intensity of the political rivalry. Despite the inconclusive nature of the debate, it was hailed as "historic" by veteran journalists due to its format and the stature of the participants.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
