For the BJP, the battle for Chhattisgarh is unlikely to be as easy as taking candy from a baby.

The candy is held tightly by Congress chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, who has not hidden his crush on the sweet.

The BJP had got hold of a photograph of Baghel playing Candy Crush, a popular mobile game, on his smartphone and presumed this was proof enough of unbecoming frivolity on the part of a chief minister.

But Baghel, projected in opinion polls as likely to retain power in the absence of a robust challenge from the BJP, declared that he loved to play Candy Crush and was good at it, having already reached a high level with 4,400 points.

According to PTI, the BJP had on Wednesday accused Baghel of playing the game during a Congress meeting relating to candidate selection for the Assembly polls. The BJP asserted this was indication that Baghel knew his party would not retain power.

Asked by local reporters about the BJP’s criticism, Baghel shot back: “Is entertainment a crime? I am not the person who unnecessarily nurtures tension.”

The Congress too has retaliated, saying that those caught watching porn inside the Assembly are questioning the chief minister for playing a mentally stimulating game.

Baghel explained: “I do play Candy Crush after dinner. That day, I had food at T.S. Singhdeo’s (deputy chief minister) residence and went to the meeting. The game was on but I switched it off once the meeting started.”

But the BJP appeared to view the photograph as political ammunition. Former chief minister Raman Singh posted it with the message: “Bupesh ji, you are playing ‘games’ with Chhattisgarh for the last five years. Land scam game, coal scam game, sand scam game, liquor scam game…

“Now with the model code of conduct in force, you cannot play the scam game. Hence you opted for Candy Crush. Amazing that you are only at 4400 level in five years at Candy Crush, your government is at 420 level. But don’t worry; this is what you have to do full-time after November 17.”

“420” appeared an allusion to Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with cheating.

Baghel promptly hit back: “How cute Dr sahab! Kaise kar lete hein aap ye sab? Koi tonic wagarah lete hein kya (How do say these things? Do you take some tonic)?

“Those who played the Commonwealth Game of commission-khori with Family and Extended Family for 15 years will now talk like this? Don’t worry! I am crushing only candies, but public is going to crush Kamishankhors (commission-seekers) again.”

He added: “The BJP earlier had objections to my playing the local tribal games. They objected to Chhattisgarhiya Olympics being organised here. Yesterday they got a photograph and now they ask why am I playing Candy Crush?

“In fact, they have objection to my very existence. But it is for the people of the state to decide who will survive, who won’t. I will keep playing local games and the mobile game. The people of Chhattisgarh will decide who they want to bless.”

In Delhi, the Congress’s Chhattisgarh minder Kumari Selja said: “The Congress will not only retain power, it will improve its tally to reach 75 (out of the total 90 seats). Bharosa Barkarar/ Fir Congress Sarkar. There is no section of society that hasn’t benefited from the welfare schemes of the Baghel government.

“While Niti Aayog data says 40 lakh people have been lifted out of poverty in the last five years in Chhattisgarh, farmers were getting Rs 2,650 per quintal for paddy, the highest in the country.”