Congress gains Chhattisgarh minister’s relative, could fragment SC vote

A senior minister in the Chhattisgarh government saw a family member switch allegiance to the Indian National Congress this week. The relative, identified as a close kin of the cabinet minister, publicly announced the move at a party gathering in Raipur. The development comes as parties intensify their outreach to Scheduled Caste (SC) voters ahead of the state assembly polls. Political observers note that the minister’s family has traditionally been aligned with the ruling party, and the defection could erode the incumbent’s support base among SC communities. Analysts suggest that the Congress may leverage the newcomer’s local influence to fragment the SC vote, potentially altering the electoral calculus in several constituencies.