RAMAN SINGH LIKELY TO FIGHT LS POLLS
The loss of recent Assembly polls notwithstanding, former chief minister of Chhattisgarh, Dr Raman Singh, is likely to be fielded by the Bharatiya Janata Party in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. The party is considering the nomination of Dr Singh from the Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha seat. Abhishek Singh, the son of former chief minister, is the sitting member of Parliament from Rajnandgaon since 2014. Interestingly, Dr Singh was elected to the 13th Lok Sabha in 1999 from the same constituency. Sources stated that the party wants to utilise the services of the three time chief minister of Chhattisgarh at the Central level. Interestingly, the party has already indicated its intent to utilise Dr Singh’s services at the central level by appointing him as national Vice President of BJP last month. The decision to field the former state chief minister for a role at the central level was being contemplated in an effort to use his vast experience in the state. There was also a belief that leader of his stature should not be wasted in the role of running the opposition and his services could better be utilised at the national level, sources added.