Baghel survives for now, says, ‘Told my leader everything’

Meets the Gandhis, Rahul to visit C’garh next week

After a marathon meeting lasting more than three hours with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel managed to save his job for another day. The meeting on Friday evening was attended by his sister, Priyanka Gandhi, and general secretary incharge, P.L. Punia.

Speaking with reporters after the meeting, Mr Baghel said, “I told him everything. There were political as well as state administrative discussions. In the end, I requested Rahul Gandhi to visit Chhattisgarh. He gladly accepted the invitation. He will be there next week. He (Rahul Gandhi) will first visit Bastar and inspect the various projects and works there.” When asked about the 2.5 years formula regarding the chief ministers of the state, he said, “P.L. Punia has already clarified this, I don't need to say anything further. I have told my leader whatever I wanted to.”

This is the second meeting between the Congress leadership and the chief minister amidst the continuing power struggle between him and state health minister T.S. Singh Deo. In Friday’s meeting Ms Priyanka Gandhi is said to have played a keen role as she was shuttling between the residence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi and residence of Mr Rahul Gandhi where the

meeting was taking place.

Mr Singh Deo had earlier this week met the Congress high command along with Mr Baghel. While the chief minister returned to Raipur, Mr Singh Deo remained in Delhi demanding that the assurance given in 2018 of rotational chief ministers should be fulfilled by the party high command. Both the factions Mr Baghel and Mr Singh Deo are demanding that their leader should be leading the state government.

The day saw hectic parleys as supporter MLAs of Mr Baghel were in the national capital. They were staying at a plush hotel in central Delhi. After concluding the meeting with the Congress high command, the chief minister headed to the Congress headquarters to meet up with them. One of the ministers who is in Delhi to support Mr Baghel, Amarjeet Bhagat, said: “We have come to talk to our leaders. Our government is doing very well under Bhupesh Baghel’s leadership. We only want to tell the leadership to keep blessing us.”

Mr Baghel and Mr Singh Deo have publicly stated that they will abide by the decision of the party high command. But Mr Singh Deo has already conveyed to the party’s high command that he cannot wait for more than two months for the change in leadership as it is not possible to work with the current chief minister. Mr Baghel has communicated to the high command that he has the brute support of the party MLAs and any change may destabilise the state government.

State incharge Mr P.L. Punia said, “CM wanted to brief Rahul Gandhi personally. He briefed him about ongoing schemes in the state, and Rahul Gandhi was impressed. CM requested him to come to the state and see it for himself.

◗ MR BAGHEL and Mr Singh Deo have publicly stated that they will abide by the decision of the party high command. But Mr Singh Deo has already conveyed to the party’s high command that he cannot wait for more than two months for the change in leadership as it is not possible to work with the current chief minister.