A no-confidence motion moved by the Congress against the Raman Singh-led government was defeated by a voice vote in the Chhattisgarh Assembly on Saturday, PTI reported. The debate lasted around 15 hours, starting around 12 noon on Friday and ending at 2.10 am on Saturday.

The Congress moved the no-confidence motion, alleging corruption, poor law and order situation, and the controversy surrounding a sex CD allegedly featuring a state minister. Singh termed the allegations as “direction-less and baseless”. “In the last 15 years, Congress has failed to play the role of constructive opposition and has never come up with any alternative policy,” Singh said. “The no-confidence motion was direction-less, unprincipled, unsubstantiated and unplanned.”

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Singh said the Bharatiya Janata Party was in power in 19 states, ruling almost 70% of the country, while the Congress’s rule has reduced to only 6% of the country’s territory. “Like the Congress party, its chargesheet has also shrunk,” he said in a reference to the 15 points mentioned in the chargesheet. In a no-confidence motion moved by the Congress during the winter session of the Assembly, the party had listed out 168 points.

Leader of the Opposition TS Singhdeo said the state government had cheated people by not fulfilling its promises. “The government has failed on all fronts,” he said. “Farmers are facing a crisis, the youth have no jobs, women are unsafe and public representatives are being targeted.”

Chhattisgarh Minister Rajesh Munat had filed a complaint against Congress state unit chief Bhupesh Baghel for allegedly circulating a clip from the sex CD. Singhdeo said Baghel was being targeted by the government machinery.

This was the third no-trust motion faced by the BJP government in the state. The state, which is under BJP rule since 2003, will be going to the polls later this year.