Chhattisgarh Elections 2023: Can BJP stage a comeback with Mahadev betting app allegations?

Chhattisgarh Elections 2023: BJP has cited the ongoing marathon raids by the central agency in connection with a coal scam, then a liquor scam and now the Mahadev betting app, to accuse the Congress party.

Unfolding much like a Bollywood film script during the past two months the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has either raided, arrested or summoned leaders and close aides of the ruling Congress party in pollbound Chhattisgarh.

Ahead of the second phase of assembly elections scheduled for November 17, BJP has cited the ongoing marathon raids by the central agency in connection with a coal scam, then a liquor scam and now the Mahadev betting app, to accuse the Congress party and CM Bhupesh Baghel of massive corruption. With respect to the Mahadev app, the allegation is that there is an undue benefit they received to the tune of Rs 508 crore from Mahadev betting app promoters.

Following the raids, the agency had claimed that “high-ranking officials connected with the CMO (Chief Minister’s Office)” in Chhattisgarh received kickbacks to allow the illegal gaming app to run its operations in the state.

The Mahadev App Saga

The issue of the Mahadev betting app is not new for the state. It is a high-profile scandal involving an online betting platform that enabled illegal gambling on various games, such as poker, card games, badminton, tennis, football and cricket.

Its alleged promoters Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal who hail from lower middle class backgrounds once did odd jobs for livelihood. They were allegedly petty gamblers and managed to raise money to launch the Mahadev Book App, which was named after Chandrakar’s Mahadev Juice Centre in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh. The app was developed by Indian and European coders and was launched during the Covid lockdown in 2020. Since then, the business grew massively and Chandrakar had around 2,000 centres.

People were running these centres for commission, as per the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Huge amounts of cash were allegedly laundered through hawala channels to Dubai, from where they were allegedly running the operations of the app. From doing odd jobs to earn a livelihood, the duo has allegedly amassed a fortune worth more than Rs 6,000 crore from the app.

BJP Grabs A Political Opening

While Chhattisgarh local dailies were publishing stories on the Mahadev app, the story going national and even international gave BJP an opportunity that it has gleefully latched on to.

Until a few months ago, the election campaign was a steep climb for the BJP, which was down in the dumps after ruling the state for 15 years. Slumping to 15 seats in the 2018 assembly polls was a big blow.

But of late, BJP has made a comeback and is putting up a fierce challenge by encashing the suspicions aroused among voters from the Mahadev betting app. It is especially trying to woo the state’s urban voters over this issue.

In raising the scandal, BJP has been helped by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had maintained silence on the Mahadev app for two and a half years. In his five political rallies, he has directly targeted Bhupesh Baghel. Slogans like "Bhupesh kaka, tees taka” (Bhupesh Uncle takes 30 percent commission) are being hurled by the top guns of the BJP.

The biggest question which arises at this point is, had ED been really diligent about checking money laundering, why the delay in banning the Mahadev App which happened only earlier this month.

CM Baghel has responded to the raids saying the probe agencies are alleging scams to the tune of Rs 2,168 crore in Chhattisgarh but are unable to prove anything, as assets recovered in raids make up for only a fraction of that sum. The ED has not been able to account for more than Rs 200 crore despite four charge sheets, added Baghel. Baghel’s attempt to draw voter sympathy and allege a witch hunt is evident. But it isn’t clear if he is able to convince voters.

BJP Onslaught Sways Urban Voters

BJP, which is fighting the elections under a collective leadership, without projecting any one person as its chief ministerial face, knows that countering Baghel’s stature among voters is important to cover up its lacuna at the top. It has zeroed in on the Mahadev issue and associating Bhupesh Baghel and his allies to it to puncture the CM’s attempts to turn the elections into a presidential contest.

Though it cannot be stated very clearly, the Mahadev scandal might influence urban voters. However, rural voters seem unaffected so far, as they seem to be more focussed on farm issues. So what we may end up seeing is a drift in urban votes to BJP, rural votes to Congress and the tribal votes split between both.

After suffering a severe drubbing from the Congress in 2018, the BJP has indeed made an impressive comeback. November 17, when 70 of the seats in the state goes to polls, will tell us how close the contest became and who emerged the beneficiary from the Mahadev app scandal.

Harsh Dubey is a political commentator based in Raipur. Views are personal, and do not represent the stance of the publication.