News Analysis India

Tag: TS Singh Deo

  • Chhattisgarh minister’s relative found dead near rail tracks; BJP seeks probe

    By PTI

    BILASPUR: Chhattisgarh minister TS Singh Deo’s relative Veerbhadra Pratap Singh (42), a Janpad panchayat representative, was found dead near railway tracks in Bilaspur district on Friday with police suspecting he might have fallen off accidentally from the Durg-Ambikapur Express train in which he was travelling.

    The body of Singh (42), vice-president of the Lundra Janpad Panchayat in Surguja district, was found near tracks between Salka and Belgahna railway stations under Kota police station area in the morning, police said.

    Singh alias Sachin Baba, a relative of state’s Health Minister TS Singh Deo, belonged to the Dhaulpur unit of the erstwhile Surguja royal family.

    The body was spotted by railway personnel who then informed the police, said Parul Mathur, Bilaspur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).

    After identifying the body, his family members were informed and a forensic team was sent to the spot for investigation, she said.

    “He was travelling to Ambikapur from Raipur by Durg-Ambikapur Express on Thursday night and prima facie it seems he fell accidentally from the moving train and died of injuries,” Mathur said, adding further investigation was underway.

    The body was handed over to his relatives after postmortem, she added.

    Meanwhile, the opposition BJP claimed Singh’s death occurred under suspicious circumstances and demanded a judicial probe into the incident.

    “Sachin (as he was known), who was a close relative of minister Singh Deo, was arrested last year in connection with the alleged attack on the convoy of Congress MLA Brihaspat Singh (in July 2021). In the present circumstances it does not seem to be a normal incident and it could also be a political murder,” senior BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar said.

    He demanded that Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel get the incident probed by a sitting judge of the High Court.

    “After the alleged attack on his convoy, Brihaspat Singh had claimed he had received a threat to his life from Singh Deo. The minister had walked out of the state Assembly (during last year’s monsoon session) disputing the (Congress) MLA’s claims. In such a situation, the matter requires a high-level inquiry,” Chandrakar said.

    BILASPUR: Chhattisgarh minister TS Singh Deo’s relative Veerbhadra Pratap Singh (42), a Janpad panchayat representative, was found dead near railway tracks in Bilaspur district on Friday with police suspecting he might have fallen off accidentally from the Durg-Ambikapur Express train in which he was travelling.

    The body of Singh (42), vice-president of the Lundra Janpad Panchayat in Surguja district, was found near tracks between Salka and Belgahna railway stations under Kota police station area in the morning, police said.

    Singh alias Sachin Baba, a relative of state’s Health Minister TS Singh Deo, belonged to the Dhaulpur unit of the erstwhile Surguja royal family.

    The body was spotted by railway personnel who then informed the police, said Parul Mathur, Bilaspur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP).

    After identifying the body, his family members were informed and a forensic team was sent to the spot for investigation, she said.

    “He was travelling to Ambikapur from Raipur by Durg-Ambikapur Express on Thursday night and prima facie it seems he fell accidentally from the moving train and died of injuries,” Mathur said, adding further investigation was underway.

    The body was handed over to his relatives after postmortem, she added.

    Meanwhile, the opposition BJP claimed Singh’s death occurred under suspicious circumstances and demanded a judicial probe into the incident.

    “Sachin (as he was known), who was a close relative of minister Singh Deo, was arrested last year in connection with the alleged attack on the convoy of Congress MLA Brihaspat Singh (in July 2021). In the present circumstances it does not seem to be a normal incident and it could also be a political murder,” senior BJP MLA Ajay Chandrakar said.

    He demanded that Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel get the incident probed by a sitting judge of the High Court.

    “After the alleged attack on his convoy, Brihaspat Singh had claimed he had received a threat to his life from Singh Deo. The minister had walked out of the state Assembly (during last year’s monsoon session) disputing the (Congress) MLA’s claims. In such a situation, the matter requires a high-level inquiry,” Chandrakar said.

  • TS Singh Deo skips Cong legislature party meet; ‘MLAs hurt by language of his resignation letter to CM’

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh minister TS Singh Deo, locked in a power tussle with Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, on Sunday didn’t attend the Congress legislature party meeting held at the CM’s residence citing “pre-planned engagements”, a day after he relinquished a key portfolio.

    A state minister told reporters after the CLP meeting that most of the legislators of Congress are hurt over the way Singh Deo has written a resignation letter to the chief minister.

    Sources said 64 of the 71 MLAs of Congress attended the CLP meeting.

    Singh Deo had given up the charge of the Panchayat and Rural Development department citing reasons like non-allotment of funds by the chief minister for the construction of houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

    The Congress legislature party meeting began after 7:30 PM to discuss the July 18 presidential poll and the state Assembly’s monsoon session scheduled to begin on July 20, a party leader had said, adding that discussion on Singh Deo’s issue could be held.

    In the evening, Singh Deo told PTI over the phone that he is in Ambikapur (Surguja district), his hometown and constituency, to attend pre-planned engagements and will not be able to attend the CLP meeting.

    He said he will arrive here on Monday to cast his vote for the presidential polls.

    A statement issued by Singh Deo’s office said the minister touring Ambikapur had earlier informed Secretary of the Legislature Party, Rajesh Tiwari, that he will reach Raipur on Monday for the Presidential election.

    Chhattisgarh Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey on Sunday night said most of the legislators of Congress are hurt over the way Singh Deo has written a resignation letter to the chief minister.

    “The way maharaj sahab (a reference to Singh Deo) has written a letter (to the CM), most of the MLAs have raised a big question mark over it. Most of them are feeling hurt over the way he has written about the working of the government,” he added.

    Singh Deo had resigned as the Panchayat and Rural Development Minister but continues to hold health and family welfare, medical education, twenty-point implementation and commercial tax (GST) portfolios.

    In his resignation letter to the chief minister, Singh Deo had claimed that not a single house was built for homeless people under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana as funds were not allotted despite “repeated request”.

    In the four-page resignation letter, Singh Deo cited various reasons, saying he was unable to fulfil the department’s targets as per the vision of the Jan Ghoshna Patra (poll manifesto), given the “current scenario”.

    When asked about what transpired at the CLP meeting, Choubey said the MLAs told All India Congress Committee’s Chhattisgarh in-charge P L Punia, who is on a visit to the state capital Raipur since July 15, that they felt hurt by Singh Deo’s letter.

    Earlier in the day, Bhupesh Baghel had said he was yet to receive Singh Deo’s resignation from the panchayat department and that he learnt about the latter’s move through the media.

    Punia had said that he had spoken to AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, sBaghel and Singh Deo on the issue and a necessary decision will be taken on it.

    RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh minister TS Singh Deo, locked in a power tussle with Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, on Sunday didn’t attend the Congress legislature party meeting held at the CM’s residence citing “pre-planned engagements”, a day after he relinquished a key portfolio.

    A state minister told reporters after the CLP meeting that most of the legislators of Congress are hurt over the way Singh Deo has written a resignation letter to the chief minister.

    Sources said 64 of the 71 MLAs of Congress attended the CLP meeting.

    Singh Deo had given up the charge of the Panchayat and Rural Development department citing reasons like non-allotment of funds by the chief minister for the construction of houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.

    The Congress legislature party meeting began after 7:30 PM to discuss the July 18 presidential poll and the state Assembly’s monsoon session scheduled to begin on July 20, a party leader had said, adding that discussion on Singh Deo’s issue could be held.

    In the evening, Singh Deo told PTI over the phone that he is in Ambikapur (Surguja district), his hometown and constituency, to attend pre-planned engagements and will not be able to attend the CLP meeting.

    He said he will arrive here on Monday to cast his vote for the presidential polls.

    A statement issued by Singh Deo’s office said the minister touring Ambikapur had earlier informed Secretary of the Legislature Party, Rajesh Tiwari, that he will reach Raipur on Monday for the Presidential election.

    Chhattisgarh Agriculture Minister Ravindra Choubey on Sunday night said most of the legislators of Congress are hurt over the way Singh Deo has written a resignation letter to the chief minister.

    “The way maharaj sahab (a reference to Singh Deo) has written a letter (to the CM), most of the MLAs have raised a big question mark over it. Most of them are feeling hurt over the way he has written about the working of the government,” he added.

    Singh Deo had resigned as the Panchayat and Rural Development Minister but continues to hold health and family welfare, medical education, twenty-point implementation and commercial tax (GST) portfolios.

    In his resignation letter to the chief minister, Singh Deo had claimed that not a single house was built for homeless people under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana as funds were not allotted despite “repeated request”.

    In the four-page resignation letter, Singh Deo cited various reasons, saying he was unable to fulfil the department’s targets as per the vision of the Jan Ghoshna Patra (poll manifesto), given the “current scenario”.

    When asked about what transpired at the CLP meeting, Choubey said the MLAs told All India Congress Committee’s Chhattisgarh in-charge P L Punia, who is on a visit to the state capital Raipur since July 15, that they felt hurt by Singh Deo’s letter.

    Earlier in the day, Bhupesh Baghel had said he was yet to receive Singh Deo’s resignation from the panchayat department and that he learnt about the latter’s move through the media.

    Punia had said that he had spoken to AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, sBaghel and Singh Deo on the issue and a necessary decision will be taken on it.

  • Trouble brews for Congress in Chhattisgarh

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: While there is a buzz about the change of guard in Rajasthan following Sachin Pilot’s recent meeting with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, trouble is brewing in party ruled Chhattisgarh with state cabinet minister TS Singh Deo pressing for a quick decision on his elevation as state CM and emphasising how indecisiveness could harm the party.

    Deo, who has been waiting for clarity from the top leadership on the rotational formula promised to him in 2018, was assured in August 2021 that the matter will be looked into later as changing Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, an OBC, then could impact the party in the five-state assembly elections.

    “He has been seeking clarity from top leadership on whether it will implement a rotational formula or not. But there has been no clarity. We have a good chance of winning back in Chhattisgarh but the matter should be addressed timely,” said a senior Congress leader.

    Another party leader from Chhattisgarh cited the caste equation playing against Deo’s elevation with less than two years left for elections. 

    ALSO READ | Congress brainstorms on targeting BJP

    “He comes from the upper caste and only 6-7 per cent of the total state population is from the upper/minority caste. The state has 32 percent tribal population and 45 per cent is OBC and Baghel comes from the OBC community. It clearly shows how the odds are stacked against him (Deo),” said the leader.

    In the past few months, Deo has met top leadership on the issue. “He is silent but not sitting quiet and there are reminders from him that regularly come to state in-charge PL Punia and top leaders. The ball is in the court of the Congress president,” said a senior party functionary.

    Deo recently claimed that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) contacted him but he will not leave the Congress.  

    “AAP contacted me. I am openly saying that I have not met AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal. I am in Congress and will continue to remain in Congress. I will not join the BJP because of ideological differences… Five generations of my family have been in Congress. I am not leaving the party. It is difficult for me to even think beyond Congress,” he said.

  • Amid Sidhu-Tewari war of words, Congress’ infighting breaks out again in Chattisgarh

    By Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH/NEW DELHI:  Amid the war of words between Congress leaders and Amarinder Singh over his friendship with a Pakistan-based journalist, Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu asserted that Punjab must come back to its real issues which concern people.

    Earlier, Congress MP Manish Tewari said chaos and anarchy was playing out in the state unit and that the people are disgusted by the daily soap opera. In a series of tweet, Sidhu said he would stick to the real issues and not let them take a backseat.

    Expressing dismay over the “guttural language” used against each other that “even fishwives would not use”, Tewari asked whether the party thought the people were not disgusted by the “daily soap opera”.

    Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa had said a probe would be conducted to ascertain whether Alam has links with Pakistan’s spy agency ISI, prompting Amarinder Singh to accuse Randhawa of resorting to personal attacks.

    “The choice is clear between irreparable damage and the last chance for damage control. Who will bring back state’s resources to the state’s coffers, instead of them going to private pockets ??’’ 

    Hitting out at former state in-charge Harish Rawat, Tewari, who is a member of G23 leaders, said: “I have never seen such chaos and anarchy as what is playing out in Punjab Congress. Repeated open defiance of AICC by a PCC President, colleagues squabbling publicly with each other like children. Guttural language against each other that even fish wives would not use.”

    “Since you (Rawat) referred to me in this interview I also have great regard and respect for you going back to days when I headed the National Students’ Union of India and you the Congress Sevadal. However, in my 40 years plus in the Congress I have never seen such chaos and anarchy as what is playing out in INC Punjab today,” he said on Twitter.

    For the past five months, he said, it was Punjab Congress versus Congress.

    “Do we think that people of Punjab are not disgusted by this daily soap opera? Irony is that those who complained loudest of transgressions and aberrations were unfortunately and continue to be worst offenders themselves.” 

    Slamming the Kharge panel, Tewari asked, “History would record that the appointment of the Committee that ostensibly heard perceived and real grievances was a serious error of judgement. Where is progress on issues that agitated these MLAs?”

    Sidhu’s wife Navjot Kaur Sidhu slammed Amarinder Singh on Saturday alleging that not a single posting of any official took place in the state without “money or gifts” to Aroosa Alam.

    In a series of tweets on Sunday, Tewari questioned the progress on issues like the 2015 sacrilege incidents, drug menace and power purchase pacts.

    The Congress on Friday appointed Rajasthan Revenue Minister Harish Chaudhary as the Congress’ new in-charge for party affairs in the poll-bound Punjab, relieving Harish Rawat on his request.

    Rawat, a former chief minister, is spearheading the Congress’ bid to regain power in Uttarakhand by ousting the BJP.

    “Repeated open defiance of AICC by a PCC president, colleagues squabbling publicly with each other like children. Guttural language against each other that even fishwives would not use. For the past five months, it is INC Punjab vs INC Punjab. Do we think that people of Punjab are not disgusted by this daily soap opera?,” tweeted Tewari.

    He also termed the Mallikarjun Kharge-led three-member panel formed by the Congress earlier to end factionalism in its Punjab unit as “a serious error of judgement”.

    “Irony is that those who complained loudest of transgressions and aberrations were unfortunately and continue to be worst offenders themselves. History would record that the appointment of the committee that ostensibly heard perceived and real grievances was a serious error of judgement.

    “Where is progress on the issues that agitated these MLAs and other eminences — bargari, drugs, power PPAs, illegal sand mining. Has there been any movement forward?” tweeted Tewari.

    Rawat played a key role in bringing in Sidhu as the Punjab Congress chief despite strong opposition from then chief minister Amarinder Singh, who subsequently resigned alleging humiliation by the party.

    Rawat’s role was also crucial in Amarinder Singh being replaced by Charanjit Singh Channi as the chief minister of Punjab.

    But later, Sidhu resigned as the Punjab Congress chief while raising a question over the appointments of the state police chief and state advocate general.

    On October 15, Sidhu said that said his concerns had been resolved and the Congress asserted he would continue as the head of the Punjab unit.

    Meanwhile, differences within Chhattisgarh Congress spilled out in the open again on Sunday when a party leader, considered as a supporter of state Health Minister TS Singh Deo, was allegedly stopped and heckled while he was delivering a speech during a convention of party workers in Jashpur district.

    AICC’s secretary in-charge of Chhattisgarh Saptagiri Ulaka was also present at the event.

    A video of the purported incident shows former Jashpur district Congress president Pawan Agrawal addressing the function from the stage.

    Suddenly another leader, Iftikhar Hasan, is seen trying to snatch a mike from Agrawal and pushing him away.

    The convention was held in a community hall in Jashpur town, located around 400 km away from Raipur.

    Agrawal said he was allegedly heckled and manhandled by Hasan and others when he questioned the delay in elevating TS Singh Deo as chief minister as per the purported power-sharing agreement during his speech.

    “As a Jashpur Congress president from 2013 till 2018 end, I worked extensively for the party in the district. In the 2018 assembly elections, Congress snatched all three seats- Pathalgaon, Jashpur and Kunkuri from the district from BJP. After the assembly elections, I was removed from the post of district president despite my efforts for the party’s victory,” Agrawal told PTI over the phone.

    He claimed the agreement of rotational chief ministership was made when Congress came to power in 2018.

    “After the completion of half of the five-year term of (incumbent chief minister) Bhupesh Baghel, why there is a delay in replacing him with Singh Deo ji? I was raising the same issue in front of Ulaka ji. But supporters of Baghel attacked me on the stage,” he said.

    Kunkuri MLA UD Minj, Jashpur MLA Vinay Kumar Bhagat, Jashpur district Congress president Manoj Sagar Yadav was also present on the stage, he said.

    Meanwhile, Hasan refuted Agrawal’s claim.

    The Chhattisgarh BJP also shared the video clip on Twitter with a post saying the incident reflects the culture of the Congress party.

    “There was a fight on the stage during the Congress event. Congress culture was seen. In the race for the chair in @INCChhattisgarh, now there is a fight too! When the leader reminded Rahul Gandhi of the promise of a two and a half years formula, he was assaulted in front of the in-charge,” the state BJP tweeted.

    The tussle for power between Baghel and Singh Deo appears to have quietened at the top, but the feud is very much visible at the lower level in the ruling Congress.

    Last month, a local unit of the Congress in Bilaspur had demanded the expulsion of a party MLA after he protested against the registration of a police case against another local leader, a supporter of Singh Deo.

    The demand for a change of guard was renewed after Baghel completed two-and-a-half years as chief minister in June 2021.

    The Singh Deo camp claimed the high command in 2018 had agreed to hand over the post to him after the government completed half its term.

    It appeared that Baghel had won that round when he told reporters upon return that party leader Rahul Gandhi had agreed to visit the state ‘on his invitation’, and those talking about rotating the CM’s post were promoting political instability.

    However, Singh Deo had said the decision on the leadership change lies with the party high command.

    Several Congress MLAs, considered close to Baghel, had visited Delhi multiple times in the past two months apparently to express solidarity to the CM.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • ‘Everything is fine’: Chhattisgarh MLAs return from Delhi amid leadership change buzz

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: Amid speculation about a possible change of guard in the Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh, at least 35 MLAs of the party camping in Delhi for the last few days, returned to Raipur on Monday evening.

    Most of them said “everything is fine” in the state Congress after landing at the airport here in a special aircraft.

    One of the legislators said some of his colleagues are still staying in Delhi.

    After reaching Raipur, these MLAs were seen showing victory signs.

    When asked about the reason they said everything is fine in Chhattisgarh currently helmed by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

    Sources in Congress had said these MLAs had gone to the national capital to express solidarity with the Chhattisgarh chief minister.

    However, the majority of the legislators who returned on Monday maintained they had gone on a personal visit.

    “We had gone (Delhi) for some personal work. When we all MLAs met there, we also tried to meet our state in-charge PL Punia but he was out of Delhi so we could not meet him,” Keshkal MLA Sant Ram Netam told reporters at the Raipur airport.

    “Rahul Gandhi’s tour of Chhattisgarh is in the pipeline. We all wanted to request him through Punia to visit our respective districts”, he added.

    Netam added, “everything is fine. We will keep visiting Delhi for our work and meeting our leaders”.

    Mahasamund MLA Vinod Sevanlal Chandrakar said, “All is well. There is nothing of sorts like the speculations in media about the leadership change in Chhattisgarh.”

    “The way the media is creating an uproar that the CM will be replaced; there is nothing like that. These things are projected by the BJP and RSS,” he claimed.

    Talking to PTI, Chandrakar said 35 MLAs returned to Raipur on Monday evening while some legislators were still staying in Delhi.

    He said the MLAs’ trip to Delhi should not be given a political colour.

    Dharamjaigarh MLA Laljeet Singh Rathiya said he and other legislators had gone to extend support to the chief minister but refused to elaborate.

    Rathiya said the MLAs came to know from Punia that Rahul Gandhi would visit Raipur on October 7 to take part in the inauguration ceremony of the “Ram Gaman Tourist Circuit” in Chandkhuri village in the Raipur district.

    Political circles in Chhattisgarh have been rife with speculation about replacing the chief minister after the MLAs, considered close to Baghel, flew to Delhi on different days last week.

    The CM had said the visit by Congress MLAs to Delhi should not be seen through the prism of politics.

    Chhattisgarh Health Minister T S Singh Deo, who is apparently seeking to replace Baghel, too played down the visit by MLAs to Delhi saying it should not be made an issue.

    About the possible leadership change, Singh Deo had reiterated that the Congress high command had seized of the matter.

    The buzz about possible leadership change began after Baghel completed two-and-a-half years as chief minister in June 2021.

    The Singh Deo camp had claimed the Congress brass in 2018 had agreed to hand over the CM’s post to him after he completed half of his five-year term, apparently to prevent factionalism.

  • About 20 Chhattisgarh MLAs stay put in Delhi, CM Baghel says visit ‘not political’

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Amid speculations over the possibility of a leadership change in Chhattisgarh, about 20 Congress MLAs known to be close to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel are camped in Delhi in what is being seen by many as a show of strength.

    However, Baghel, in Raipur, said the visit by the Congress MLAs to Delhi should not be seen through the prism of politics.

    When asked on Saturday about the MLAs’ trip to Delhi, the chief minister said there is no ban on the legislators going somewhere and they are independent.

    “It is not a political movement. They will visit and return,” he added.

    The remarks came amid speculations over the possibility of a leadership change in Chhattisgarh where cabinet minister T S Singhdeo is vying for the chief minister post.

    MLA Brihaspat Singh, who is camped in Delhi, reiterated on Saturday that there is no question of change of leadership in the state and the government will complete its term of five years under the leadership of Baghel.

    He also said the MLAs present in Delhi paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi by visiting Rajghat on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.

    “We are here to meet AICC in charge of Chhattisgarh P L Punia and are waiting for him. We want to convey that Rahul Gandhi should extend the duration of his proposed tour to the state so that all MLAs can benefit from it,” said Singh, the party MLA from the Ramanujganj seat of the state.

    When contacted, Punia had said on Thursday that he was in Lucknow and had no information about the MLAs being in Delhi as none of them had contacted him.

    According to sources, so far about 20 MLAs have reached Delhi and some more legislators are expected to come to the national capital.

    Meanwhile, the Congress appointed Baghel as a senior observer for next year’s Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

    Baghel supporters see this as a positive sign.

    A legislator supporting Baghel said, “Chhattisgarh is among the leading states of the country in terms of development under the leadership of our chief minister. This is the reason why the party high command has full faith in him.”

    In his remarks in Raipur, Baghel asserted that his state can never become Punjab, and said the two states bear only one similarity — that of having numbers in their names.

    The Congress has been in turmoil in Punjab after Amarinder Singh quit as the chief minister and the party’s state unit chief Navjot Singh Sidhu tendered his resignation from his post ahead of the crucial assembly elections in the state early next year.

    “Chhattisgarh will always remain Chhattisgarh. It cannot become Punjab. The two states have only one similarity that both have numbers in their names,” Baghel told reporters at the helipad in Raipur when asked that the BJP has equated Chhattisgarh and Punjab with the turmoil in the ruling Congress.

    “Punjab is the land of ‘punj’ (five) ‘aab’ (water). It is made up of five rivers. Similarly, Chhattisgarh has derived its name from ‘chhattis’ (thirty-six) ‘garh’ (fort). No other states have numbers in their names. There is no other similarity between the two states,” he added.

    The demand for a change of guard reared its head in Chhattisgarh after Baghel completed two-and-a-half years as chief minister in June 2021.

    The camp of cabinet minister T S Singhdeo has claimed that the high command in 2018 had agreed to hand over the post to him after the government completed half its term.

    The Congress high command summoned both Baghel and Singhdeo to Delhi in August to resolve the feud.

    It appeared that Baghel had managed to avert, for the time being, a leadership change when he told reporters in Raipur recently that Rahul Gandhi had agreed to visit the state “on his invitation”, and those talking about rotating the CM’s post were promoting political instability.

    However, there has been constant speculation over the matter.

  • Congress replaces four vice-presidents, three general secretaries in Chhattisgarh unit

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday appointed additional office-bearers in the party’s Chhattisgarh unit, replacing four vice-presidents as well as three general secretaries.

    The development came amid speculation over the possibility of a leadership change in Chhattisgarh where cabinet minister T S Singh Deo is vying for the chief minister post.

    Arun Singhania, P R Khunte, Ambika Markam and Vani Rao were appointed vice-presidents in the Congress’ state unit, replacing Girish Devangan, Atal Srivastava, Bhanu Pratap Singh and Padma Manhar, according to a party statement.

    Vasudev Yadav, Amarjeet Chawla and Sumitra Dhritlahre were appointed general secretaries in place of Dwarika Prasad Yadav, Uttam Vasudev and Pankaj Sharma.

    Sushil Anand Shukla was appointed head of the communication department of the party’s Chhattisgarh unit in place of Shailesh Nitin Trivedi.

    Four new DCC chiefs were also appointed.

    In another appointment, the Congress named Neeraj Pandey the head of NSUI’s Chhattisgarh unit, replacing Smash Sharma.

    Manjul Tripathi was named NSUI Madhya Pradesh unit chief, replacing Vipin Wankhede.

    The party also announced its candidate for assembly bypolls — Chalrosanga Ralte for Tuirial in Mizoram; Balmoori Venkat Narsingh Rao for Huzurabad in Telangana; and Nitendra Singh for Prithvipur in Madhya Pradesh.

    The Congress also appointed K Abdul Jabbar as the chairman of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee’ minority department.

  • Chhattisgarh can never become Punjab, says CM Bhupesh Baghel, plays down MLAs visiting Delhi 

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: Amid speculation about a possible change of guard in the Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday asserted that his state can never become Punjab, and said the two states bear only one similarity – that of having numbers in their names.

    The Congress has been in turmoil in Punjab after Amarinder Singh quit as the chief minister and the party’s state unit chief Navjot Singh Sidhu resigned from his post ahead of the crucial assembly elections in the state early next year.

    “Chhattisgarh will always remain Chhattisgarh. It cannot become Punjab. The two states have only one similarity that both have numbers in their names,” Baghel told reporters at the helipad here when asked that the BJP has equated Chhattisgarh and Punjab over turmoil in the ruling Congress.

    “Punjab is land of punj (five) aab (water). It is made up of five rivers. Similarly Chhattisgarh has derived its name from ‘chhattis’ (thirty six) ‘garh’ (fort). No other states have numbers in their names. There is no other similarity between the two states,” he added.

    The political corridor in Chhattisgarh has been rife with speculation of possible leadership change in the Congress government soon as around two dozen party MLAs, considered close to Baghel, flew to Delhi in the last three days.

    While the purpose of their trip is yet to become clear, some party sources said the MLAs were visiting the national capital to express solidarity with Baghel.

    ALSO READ | Congress govt in Rajasthan will complete five-year tenure: CM Ashok Gehlot 

    The CM had said on Thursday that the visit by Congress MLAs to Delhi should not be seen through the prism of politics. When asked on Saturday about the MLAs’ trip to Delhi, Baghel said, there is no ban on the legislators from going somewhere and they are independent.

    “It is not a political movement. You ask if it is a political movement. They will visit and return,” he added.

    Health Minister T S Singh Deo, who is apparently seeking to replace Baghel, too, played down the visit by MLAs to Delhi as he had said it should not be made an issue. About the possible leadership change, Singh Deo had reiterated that the decision is reserved with the party high command.

    Brihaspat Singh, who is among the legislators who were in Delhi, had said on Wednesday that 15 to 16 party legislators were in Delhi to meet P L Punia ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s proposed tour of the state.

    Singh is considered to be close to Baghel.

    The buzz about possible leadership change began after Baghel completed two-and-a-half years as chief minister in June 2021.

    The Singh Deo camp claimed the top Congress leadership in 2018 had agreed to hand over the CM’s post to him after the government completed half its term.

  • Amid leadership change buzz, more Chhattisgarh MLAs reaching Delhi

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Amid speculation over the possibility of a leadership change in Chhattisgarh, the number of Congress MLAs known to be close to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel who are camping in Delhi is rising with more legislators reaching the national capital.

    The development is being viewed by many as a show of strength but sources in the Baghel camp insisted that the MLAs were reaching Delhi on their own accord and there was no show of strength going on.

    The demand for a change of guard reared its head in Chhattisgarh after Baghel completed two-and-a-half years as chief minister in June 2021.

    The camp of cabinet minister T S Singhdeo has claimed that the high command in 2018 had agreed to hand over the post to him after the government completed half its term.

    Brihaspat Singh, who is known to be close to Baghel and has been camping in Delhi, reiterated on Friday there was no question of a change at the top in the state and the Baghel-led government would complete its full term.

    “We are here to meet AICC in-charge of Chhattisgarh PL Punia and waiting for him. We want to convey that Rahul Gandhi should extend the duration of his proposed tour to the state so that all MLAs can benefit from it,” said Singh, the party MLA from the Ramanujganj seat of the state.

    When contacted, Punia had said on Thursday that he was in Lucknow and had no information about the MLAs being in Delhi as none of them had contacted him.

    According to sources, around 20 MLAs have already reached Delhi while about 10 more are set to reach the capital late at night.

    Singh had said on Thursday that around 15 party MLAs are in Delhi to meet Punia.

    Asked about the MLAs’ visit to the capital, Baghel had told reporters in Raipur on Thursday, “Tell me one thing – can’t legislators go anywhere. Every step should not be seen as politics. Anybody can go anywhere. Even you (mediapersons) tour with your friends and it doesn’t mean every time the purpose is getting news.”

    Similarly, if anyone has gone to Delhi it should not be seen through a political prism, said the CM.

    Downplaying the development, Singhdeo had said, “All 70 MLAs can go. What is the issue if MLAs go to Delhi. All this went on in Uttar Pradesh also, what is new that is happening in Chhattisgarh.”

    He had said it is the view of all MLAs that everyone would abide by the decision of the high command.

    The Congress high command summoned both Baghel and Singhdeo to Delhi in August to resolve the feud.

    It appeared that Baghel had managed to avert for the time being a leadership change when he told reporters in Raipur recently that party leader Rahul Gandhi had agreed to visit the state “on his invitation”, and those talking about rotating the CM’s post were promoting political instability.

    However, there has been constant speculation over the matter.

  • Chhattisgarh next after Punjab? Over dozen Congress MLAs reach Delhi, visit sparks leadership change speculation

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: As the suspense over the possibility of change in leadership in Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh continues, the political heat appears to be once again escalating in the state after over a dozen Congress MLAs reached Delhi on Wednesday.

    The political circle in the state was abuzz with speculation that the legislators have gone to express their support to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

    However, the MLAs who have reached the national capital said their visit was linked with the proposed tour of former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi to the state.

    “Around 15-16 party MLAs have reached Delhi and are staying at different places. Rahul ji’s visit to Chhattisgarh is proposed. We wanted to convey a request to Rahul ji through our state in-charge P L Punia ji that he should extend a little the duration of his tour so that all the MLAs could get benefit of it,” said Brihaspat Singh, the party MLA from Ramanujganj seat of state.

    “We have come to Delhi just to make this request and we will speak to Punia sir on Thursday in this regard. Our visit should not be seen in other way,” he told PTI over phone from Delhi.

    ALSO READ | Endgame for Congress? With ‘Get Well Soon’ placards, party workers protest outside Kapil Sibal’s house

    When asked whether their visit was aimed at expressing support to Baghel, Singh said, “Our party has 70 MLAs (in the 90-member state assembly), of whom 60 legislators had last time told everything to Punia ji. When there is blessing of the high command, support of the MLAs and the chief minister is working well, then no such issue (of leadership change) exists.”

    He also denied the alleged tussle between Baghel and state health minister T S Singh Deo and said that both the leaders had recently shared the stage and exchanged sweets.

    He also said that they respect each other.

    “The situation in Chhattisgarh is not similar to Punjab. The high command of any party would not put the entire government at stake just to make one leader happy,” he said without naming anyone.

    ALSO READ | Punjab Congress crisis: CM Charanjit Singh Channi asks ‘head of family’ Sidhu to resolve issues

    Singh, considered as close to Baghel, was embroiled in a controversy in July this year when he alleged that there was a threat to his life from Singh Deo.

    However, the MLA, who hails from Singh Deo’s home turf Sarguja, later withdrew the claim.

    The demand for a change of guard reared its head after Baghel completed two and a half years as chief minister in June 2021.

    Singh Deo camp claimed that the high command in 2018 had agreed to hand over the post to him after the government completed half its term.

    ALSO READ | Now, Ghulam Nabi Azad writes to Sonia Gandhi seeking CWC meeting to discuss Cong affairs

    Congress in-charge of the state P L Punia has time and again denied that any such deal was struck in 2018 when the party came to power by dislodging the BJP.

    The Congress high command summoned both Baghel and Singh Deo to Delhi in August to resolve the feud.

    It appeared that Baghel had won this round when he told reporters upon return that party leader Rahul Gandhi had agreed to visit the state ‘on his invitation’, and those talking about rotating the CM’s post were promoting political instability.

    As many as 54 out of 70 Congress MLAs had visited Delhi separately when Baghel was in the national capital, in an apparent show of strength on his side.

    While both Baghel and Singh Deo have desisted from saying anything about the leadership issue since then, the feud has not abated.