Political tensions have escalated in Chhattisgarh following an increase in electricity rates. The Congress party has announced a phased agitation against the hike, while Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai has clarified that the increase will not affect the poor and farmers. The Chief Minister stated that the government is providing relief to the poor under the ‘Half Electricity Scheme’. Domestic consumers are affected by a mere 10 to 20 paise per unit increase. For farmers, the increase is only 50 paise per unit, but the government is providing 3000 units of free electricity to consumers up to 3 HP, with the government bearing the cost. The Chhattisgarh State Electricity Regulatory Commission (CSERC) has approved an average 1.89% increase in electricity rates for the fiscal year 2025-26. This marks the first electricity price increase since the BJP government came into power. The Congress is opposing the move, calling it anti-people and accusing the government of burdening the poor. The issue has become a central point of political debate, with the government portraying it as limited and in public interest, while the opposition views it as an added burden on the public.
