Congress names Bhupesh Baghel as new CM of Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: The Congress party on Sunday chose Bhupesh Baghel, 57, as chief minister of Chhattisgarh from among four contenders, four days after the party won absolute majority in the just-concluded state assembly election .

The announcement was made after a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in Raipur, attended by Congress observer for the state Mallikarjun Kharge and state in-charge PL Punia. Baghel will be sworn in as CM on Monday.

“Baghel will take oath as the chief minister at 5 pm on Monday,” Kharge told media persons in the state capital, adding that no other minister will be taking oath on Monday.

The process to pick the Chhattisgarh CM took longer than the announcements in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan after the Congress registered victories in three heartland states, including Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, because of divided opinion within the state leadership of the party.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi had on Saturday tweeted a picture of himself flanked by all the four claimants to the post — Baghel, TS Singh Deo, Tamradhwaj Sahu, and Charan Das Mahant — hinting at the end of the tussle over who would be the next CM of Chhattisgarh after holding discussions with the leaders at his residence in Delhi.

Talking about Baghel’s appointment, Kharge said, “It was a tough decision because the four leaders worked equally for the party. After having discussions with the four aspirants, Gandhi decided to chose Baghel as the CM and we conveyed the message to all the legislators today in the CLP meeting during which they all accepted it and unanimously elected Baghel as the CLP leader.”

Baghel thanked Gandhi for giving him the responsibility of CM.

“I assure the people of Chhattisgarh that my government will work for the people and fulfil the promises made,” he said.