Baghel may head Cong's UP election campaign

Chhattisgarh Chief Miniter Bhupesh Baghel (59) is likely to head Congress’ poll campaign in Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in February next year, in view of his extraordinary performance in recent Assam elections.

Congress sources said that former party president Rahul Gandhi has already tipped him off to spare time for the UP elections as he was impressed with his performance after he was asked to take charge of Assam elections.

"Whatever be the results on May 2, the Assam state unit has given a commendable report of the work done by Baghel and his team," sources said.

The term of the present UP Assembly is ending on March 14 and hence polls are due in February-March. The Congress has become an "also ran" party in UP, but it is planning to go all out in the state.

The Congress had roped in Baghel in Assam and Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot in West Bengal. When Rahul suggested in a meeting with his mother and party president Sonia Gandhi that Baghel should shift to Lucknow from November with his team to manage the party's campaign, some leaders objected that uprooting a chief minister from his state for a long time is risky.

However, Rahul pointed out that Baghel has already nursed Chhattisgarh well and moreover Assembly elections are due there only in November 2023. His sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is AICC general secretary in-charge of UP, is also happy to work with Baghel's team, sources said.