The Raipur Municipal Corporation elections mark a significant political battleground, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeking to reclaim power after 15 years in the opposition. The Congress, which has held control over the Corporation since BJP’s Sunil Soni’s tenure as Mayor, faces mounting challenges, including allegations of corruption and stagnation in development initiatives. Historically, municipal elections have been a litmus test for governance, often witnessing anti-incumbency sentiments due to mismanagement, corruption, or lack of visible progress. The shift from a direct mayoral election to an indirect system, wherein the mayor is elected by corporators rather than the public, has further fuelled allegations of political manoeuvring, with accusations that muscle and money power played a major role in determining leadership under the Congress regime. The BJP is positioning itself as the party of accountability, focusing its campaign on exposing alleged corruption and inefficiencies in the Congress-led Corporation. They argue that despite substantial financial assistance from centre for city development, funds have been misused or squandered.

 

The party highlights the Smart City project’s shortcomings as a case in point. Meenal Choubey BJP’s Mayoral candidate, who has been associated with the Municipal Corporation for 15 years, underscores a clear roadmap for urban development, prioritizing improved waste management, a well-structured drainage system, and enhanced traffic management. The party believes that voters are disenchanted with the Congress-led municipal administration and that the election has become a cycle of alternating power without real progress. BJP leaders assert that the lack of credible new leadership within the Congress is evident in their selection of a former mayor’s wife Deepti Dubey as their candidate and reflects internal stagnation and nepotism.

 

The Congress, on the other hand, is focusing its campaign on the alleged failures of the BJP-led state government, which has been in power for just over a year. State Congress President Deepak Baij has been vocal in his criticism, accusing the BJP of lawlessness, deteriorating civic conditions, and a surge in crime in Raipur. He claims that the capital has been transformed into a crime hotspot under BJP rule, citing instances of increased robberies, murders, and chain snatchings.

 

The Congress contends that while they ensured infrastructural development during their tenure, the BJP has failed to contribute anything substantial in the past year. Baij also criticized the BJP’s governance structure, questioning its leadership dynamics and alleging interference from the central party leadership in Delhi and Nagpur. According to the Congress, the BJP’s promise of ‘Modi Guarantee’ has not translated into tangible benefits for the people, making it a weak electoral plank. Instead, the Congress manifesto emphasizes local governance, asserting that their corporators and mayor will remain accessible to the public 24/7 to resolve civic issues such as water supply, drainage, and road maintenance. With both parties trading accusations, the Raipur Municipal Corporation election is shaping up to be a keenly contested battle. While the BJP is banking on anti-incumbency and allegations of Congress corruption, the Congress is framing the election as a referendum on the BJP’s state governance and crime control. The ultimate outcome will depend on voter sentiment—whether the electorate prioritizes BJP’s promise of systemic reform or Congress’ focus on local governance and accessibility. The municipal elections have often seen swings in power, and this year’s contest is expected to follow a similar unpredictable trajectory. The real question remains: Will Raipur voters opt for continuity or change?