Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel welcomed Guru Dhaldas Saheb to the party on September 11, 2026. Credit: X/@bhupeshbaghel
Guru Dhaldas Saheb, a leader from the numerically significant Satnami community and the older brother of Chhattisgarh Minister, and BJP leader Guru Khushwant Saheb, has joined the Opposition Congress in the State.
Comprising around 13% of Chhattisgarh’s population, the Satnami community represents the largest Scheduled Castes group in the State. Mr. Dhaldas’ family belongs to the lineage of Baba Guru Ghasidas who founded the Satnam Panth in the 19th century.
Mr. Khushwant Saheb and their father Guru Baldas Saheb had joined the BJP after leaving the Congress in 2023 ahead of the State Assembly elections, with the former winning on a BJP ticket from the Arang Assembly constituency.
Mr. Dhaldas joined the Opposition party in the presence of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel at the latter’s official residence on Friday (September 11, 2026). “The beginning has been made. Together, we will remove the BJP,” Mr. Baghel wrote on X.
On Saturday (September 12, 2026), State Congress president Deepak Baij said Mr. Dhaldas’ entry was just the trailer and there were more more BJP leaders – whom he called naraz phuphas (or grumpy uncles a term used by PM Narendra Modi to target his critics) – preparing to join the Congress.
On his reasons to switch over, Mr. Dhaldas told journalists that the BJP was not acting according to the principles of Guru Baba Ghasidas. He also added that he had discussed the issue with his family and there were no political differences between them despite him breaking ranks.
He expressed interest in contesting the 2028 Assembly polls if his new party gave him a chance. “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, adding that Mungeli, a Scheduled Caste-reserved constituency, would be his preferred seat in the event of contesting.
On Arang, the seat currently represented by his younger brother in the State Assembly, he said that he would contest from there if his brother is not fielded [by the BJP]
Published – September 13, 2026 02:13 am IST
