Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Chhattisgarh PMAY Debate Turns Into Battle Over Housing Figures
Two political leaders in Chhattisgarh held a public debate about a government housing program called PMAY.
The program helps build homes for eligible families.
Bhupesh Baghel said his former government had sanctioned several lakh homes and faced problems because of COVID-19 and limited money.
Vijay Sharma disagreed and said the current government had approved 18 lakh homes.
Sharma also said 17.75 lakh homes had been completed and much more money had been spent under the current government.
The two leaders disagreed about whether the central government continued sending money during the COVID-19 period.
The debate was shown live on television.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said Sharma won the debate by a score of ten to zero.
The housing program had been an important issue in Chhattisgarh’s 2023 state election.
Former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma publicly debated the implementation of PMAY in Chhattisgarh.
Baghel cited about seven lakh sanctioned homes under his government, while Sharma pointed to 18 lakh approvals under the current BJP government.
Sharma said 17.75 lakh PMAY homes had been completed and nearly Rs 16,000 crore spent in about two and a half years.
Baghel cited 3,48,960 houses sanctioned in 2018 and 1,39,000 completed in 2020-21, blaming COVID-19 and financial constraints for delays.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai awarded Sharma ten out of ten and Baghel zero after watching the televised debate.
- Who
- Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma debated the issue; Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai later commented on it.
- What
- A live public debate over PMAY housing approvals, completed homes, funding and the scheme’s portal.
- When
- The debate took place on Tuesday; Sharma cited housing figures for 2025-26.
- Where
- Chhattisgarh.
- Why
- The debate followed challenges exchanged by Baghel and Sharma over their competing claims about PMAY implementation.
Bhupesh Baghel’s claims
Vijay Sharma’s claims
Housing approvals and construction
Bhupesh Baghel’s claims
Baghel said around seven lakh houses had been sanctioned during his government. He also cited 3,48,960 houses sanctioned in 2018 and 1,39,000 completed in 2020-21.
Vijay Sharma’s claims
Sharma rejected Baghel’s figures, saying the Sai government had approved 18 lakh houses and that 17.75 lakh PMAY houses had been completed.
Funding during COVID-19
Bhupesh Baghel’s claims
Baghel attributed the lower construction figures to the COVID-19 period and financial constraints, and claimed the central government had stopped releasing funds.
Vijay Sharma’s claims
Sharma said funds continued to be released during the COVID-19 period and blamed Baghel for financial constraints.
State responsibility and credit
Bhupesh Baghel’s claims
Baghel argued that his government’s record should be assessed using its stated approvals and completion figures.
Vijay Sharma’s claims
Sharma said Baghel had declared that the state would bear the entire cost while distancing itself from PMAY to prevent the central government from receiving credit.
- Scheme
- Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, or PMAY.
- Current government approval
- Vijay Sharma said the BJP government under Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai approved 18 lakh houses.
- Completion figure
- Sharma said 17.75 lakh PMAY houses had been completed.
- Former government figures
- Baghel said 3,48,960 houses were sanctioned in 2018 and 1,39,000 were completed in 2020-21.
- Funding cited by Sharma
- Sharma said the previous government received about Rs 3,900 crore in financial approvals over five years, while the current government spent nearly Rs 16,000 crore in about two and a half years.
- Chief minister’s verdict
- Vishnu Deo Sai gave Vijay Sharma ten out of ten and Bhupesh Baghel zero.
- Political significance
- PMAY was a major issue for the Bharatiya Janata Party during the November 2023 Chhattisgarh Assembly election campaign.