Chhattisgarh Minister's Brother Guru Dhaldas Saheb Joins Congress

Guru Dhaldas Saheb, a prominent figure from Chhattisgarh's Satnami community and the elder brother of a sitting BJP minister, has joined the Opposition Congress. The switch took place on Friday at the official residence of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who welcomed him into the party fold.

"The beginning has been made. Together, we will remove the BJP," Mr. Baghel posted on X after the induction.

The Satnami community, which makes up roughly 13% of Chhattisgarh's population, is the State's largest Scheduled Castes group. Mr. Dhaldas' family traces its lineage to Baba Guru Ghasidas, the 19th-century founder of the Satnam Panth.

His younger brother, Guru Khushwant Saheb, and their father Guru Baldas Saheb had left the Congress for the BJP in 2023, ahead of the Assembly elections. Guru Khushwant Saheb went on to win the Arang Assembly constituency on a BJP ticket.

Speaking to journalists after his induction, Mr. Dhaldas said the BJP was not functioning in accordance with the principles of Guru Baba Ghasidas. He added that he had discussed the matter with his family and that no political differences had arisen among them despite his decision to break ranks.

Mr. Dhaldas expressed a willingness to contest the 2028 Assembly polls should the Congress offer him a ticket. "If I don't contest elections, how will I serve the people? If the party gives me an opportunity, I will certainly contest," he said, naming Mungeli, a Scheduled Caste-reserved seat, as his preferred constituency.

On Arang, currently held by his younger brother, he said he would contest from there if his brother is not fielded by the BJP.

State Congress president Deepak Baij said on Saturday that Mr. Dhaldas' entry was only a trailer, claiming that more BJP leaders — whom he described as "naraz phuphas," a phrase used by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to target his critics — were preparing to join the Congress.