Satnami leader Dhaldas Saheb, brother of Chhattisgarh minister, joins Congress

Dhaldas Saheb, a Satnami community leader and elder brother of Chhattisgarh minister Guru Khushwant Saheb, joined the Opposition Congress on Friday in the presence of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Both brothers are prominent figures within the Satnami community.

In a social media post welcoming the new entrant, Baghel said a beginning had been made and that the party would work together to remove the BJP from power.

Speaking to the media after his induction, Dhaldas said he intends to contest the 2028 Assembly elections if the party decides to field him. He, however, made clear that he would not stand against his brother. He said he wants to contest from Mungeli and would enter the fray from Arang only if Khushwant is not contesting that seat. Khushwant currently represents Arang.

Explaining his decision to enter politics, Dhaldas said his family has been involved in public life since the pre-Independence period. He said he chose the Congress because it is an old party, his ancestors were part of it, and leaders such as Jawaharlal Nehru are widely regarded as heroes. He also said he belongs to the lineage of Baba Guru Ghasidas, the founder of the Satnam Panth.

Khushwant was earlier with the Congress and switched sides after being denied a ticket for the 2023 Assembly polls. He contested Arang in Raipur district on a BJP ticket, won, and was subsequently made a minister.

The Satnami community is the largest Scheduled Castes group in Chhattisgarh and accounts for more than 10 per cent of the state's population. The 14-member state cabinet includes two ministers from the SC community — Khushwant and Dayaldas Baghel.

Dhaldas's cousin, former MLA Guru Rudra Kumar, was made a minister in the Congress government in 2018 but lost the 2023 elections. Dhaldas said he has three brothers and a sister. His sister earlier served as chairperson of the Tilda-Nevra municipality, while another brother, Guru Sourabh Saheb, is the chairperson of the Raipur Zilla Panchayat.