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Tag: TS Singh Deo

  • High command to take call on leadership change in Chhattisgarh: T S Singh Deo

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: Decision on leadership change in Chhattisgarh will be taken by the Congress high command, health minister T S Singh Deo said after returning here from Delhi on Saturday.

    Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who visited Delhi twice this week and held talks with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and others, returned to the state capital.

    Tension is brewing in the ruling Congress party in Chhattisgarh ever since Singh Deo reportedly sought a change of guard citing an agreement whereby he was supposed to take over as chief minister after Baghel completed two and a half years in office.

    Singh Deo told PTI after his arrival here that the decision on leadership change, whether it will be carried out or not, lay with the party high command.

    He, however, did not reveal whether discussions were held on the leadership issue.

    “They have heard us out. The final decision they will take,” he said.

    Asked whether the high command was going to honour its ‘promise’ to rotate the chief minister’s post, Singh Deo said, “The party has never stated that there has been a promise.”

    Earlier this week, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi held separate meetings in Delhi with both Baghel and Singh Deo to resolve the issue.

    Gandhi will visit the state next week on his invitation, Baghel told reporters earlier in the day after landing at the airport.

    Singh Deo, who spent most part of this month in the national capital, returned later in the evening.

    “Different issues were discussed. There was a whole-hearted discussion with the high command regarding that. We also listened to their opinions. The whole matter is with the high command and the final decision lies with them,” he told reporters at the airport.

    “It is natural that some things remain (to be addressed). It takes time. Whatever the decision, it will be acceptable to all of us,” he added.

    Asked about several MLAs and ministers visiting Delhi to express solidarity with Baghel, Singh Deo said, “There is nothing to it if they had gone on their own. However, it is true that (state in-charge) P L Punia-ji had said that MLAs were not called to Delhi. If they went on their own, then there is nothing to it as it is a free country.”

    Over 40 MLAs and some ministers close to Baghel had reached Delhi on Thursday and Friday and met Punia and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal.

    Baghel had said on Wednesday that those talking about “two and a half years” (power sharing formula) were trying to bring political instability in the state and they would never succeed in it.

    When the Congress picked Baghel for the top post following the party’s victory in the 2018 Assembly polls, there was speculation that Singh Deo, another contender, would be allowed to take over as CM after two-and-a-half years.

    Baghel completed two-and-a-half years in office as CM in June 2021.

  • Chhattisgarh crisis: Bhupesh Baghel goes to Delhi for second time in week amid change of guard buzz

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Friday left for Delhi, for the second time this week, to meet the party’s central leadership amid escalating tussle between him and state Health Minister T S Singh Deo and talks of change in leadership in the state.

    Sources in the state Congress said that several party MLAs and ministers, who are close to Baghel, already reached Delhi on Thursday, while many legislators, ministers and senior leaders went to the national capital this morning.

    Talking to reporters at the airport, Baghel said he was going to Delhi as he had been called by the party high command.

    “(AICC general secretary organisation) K C Venupgal ji messaged me yesterday that I have to meet Rahul Gandhi ji today.As per his direction, I am going there and apart from this, I don’t have any other information,” he said.

    When asked that several Congress MLAs and ministers also gone to Delhi, he said, “Why can’t they go to meet their leaders? I got a call therefore I am going and they were going uninvited. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, nobody could visit Delhi for a long time and now they have gone to meet the leaders.”

    However, Baghel did not respond to Singh Deo’s remark made in Delhi that, “If a person plays in a team then doesn’t he think about becoming the captain?” State Agriculture Minister Ravindra Chaubey and Forest and Climate Change Minister Mohammad Akbar, were also seen entering the airport before Baghel.

    The chief minister had returned to Raipur from Delhi on Wednesday evening, a day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi held meetings with him and minister T S Singh Deo in a bid to resolve the tussle between the two senior leaders.

    ALSO READ | Curtains for Baghel? Congress veteran makes last ditch bid to stay as Chhattisgarh CM

    On Thursday, Congress MLA Devendra Yadav, before leaving for Delhi had said they would discuss the situation in the state, where the party came to power in December 2018 after ending the BJP’s 15-year-long rule, with the high command.

    State Congress chief Mohan Markam, however, had denied reports that he and MLAs have been summoned to Delhi by the party high command.

    After Rahul Gandhi’s meetings with Baghel and Singh Deo in Delhi on Tuesday, AICC state in-charge P L Punia had told reporters that their talks centred around development issues and not leadership change.

    After arriving here from Delhi, Baghel had said on Wednesday that those talking about “two and a half years” (power sharing formula) were trying to bring political instability in the state and they would never succeed in it.

    When the Congress picked Baghel for the top post following the party’s victory in the 2018 Assembly polls, there was speculation that Singh Deo, another contender in the fray, would be allowed to take over as the CM after two-and-a-half years.

    Baghel has completed two-and-a-half years in office as CM in June 2021.

  • Bhupesh Baghel likely to visit Delhi on August 27 as talks of rift in Chhattisgarh Congress persist

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is likely to visit Delhi on Friday, for the second time this week, to meet senior Congress leaders, party sources said on Thursday, amid reports of a continuing rift in the state unit despite he rejecting talks about a rotation of the CM’s post.

    According to Congress sources here, several party MLAs who are close to Baghel have started leaving for Delhi, while two ministers and some legislators are already camping in the national capital.

    Baghel had returned to Raipur from Delhi on Wednesday evening after former Congress president Rahul Gandhi held meetings with him and minister T S Singh Deo in a bid to resolve a power tussle between the two senior leaders.

    Earlier in the day, over a dozen Congress legislators and functionaries held a meeting at New Circuit House in Raipur, the sources said.

    “The chief minister would leave for Delhi on Friday, while Singh Deo is in Delhi,” they said.

    A Congress MLA said they will discuss the situation in the state, where the party came to power in December 2018 after ending the BJP’s 15-year-long rule, with the high command.

    “Under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, we (government) have been continuously serving the people of Chhattisgarh. (We) will talk to the Delhi high command about the situation (of the state),” Devendra Yadav, among the legislators who left for Delhi, told reporters at the airport here when queried about the purpose of his visit to the national capital.

    Asked how many Congress MLAs are going to Delhi, Yadav, said, “all and all MLAs are united.”

    Meanwhile, state Congress chief Mohan Markam denied reports that he and MLAs have been summoned to Delhi by the party high command.

    “Media reports are coming that the Chhattisgarh Congress President has been called to Delhi but I wanted to confirm that neither I nor MLAs have been called by the high command. The state’s in-charge, PL Punia, has also clarified that the high command has not called any MLAs or ministers,” he said in a video message circulated on social media.

    He appealed to Congress MLAs to follow directives of the high command and senior leaders and maintain party discipline.

    After Rahul Gandhi’s meetings with Baghel and Singh Deo in Delhi on Tuesday, Punia had told reporters that their talks centred around development issues and not leadership change.

    After arriving here from Delhi, Baghel on Wednesday had said those who are talking about “two and a half years’ (power sharing formula) are trying to bring political instability and they will never succeed.”

    State Food Minister Amarjeet Bhagat had tweeted pictures of grand reception of Baghel at the airport and wrote, “those who want to destabilise the government should understand that this is the government of farmers, tribals and common people.”

    When the Congress opted for Baghel for the top post following its victory in the 2018 assembly polls, there was speculation that Singh Deo, another contender in the fray, would be allowed to take over as CM after two and a half years.

    Baghel completed two and a half years in office in June 2021.

  • Those talking of rotation of CM’s post trying to bring instability: Baghel on return from Delhi

    By PTI

    RAIPUR: Those talking about a rotation of chief minister’s post were trying to bring political instability to the state, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said here on Wednesday as he returned from Delhi.

    During his visit to the national capital, he met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and other senior party leaders over his power tussle with T S Singh Deo in the state.

    In an apparent show of strength, a huge crowd of supporters along with several party MLAs and some cabinet ministers welcomed Baghel as he landed at Swami Vivekanand Airport here.

    “I have said in the past that when the high command orders, I will quit the post. No one should doubt it. Those who are talking about two and a half years, they are trying to bring political instability and they will never succeed,” he told reporters at the airport.

    “As far as the incumbent state government is concerned, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi entrusted the responsibility to a farmer like me. I am happy about it. This government is of farmers, tribals, labourers and 2.8 crore people of the state. The government is functioning well,” he added.

    Earlier, slogans such as ‘Chhattisgarh ada hua hai, CM Bhupesh Baghel ke sang khada hua hai’ (Chhattisgarh is adamant, it is standing with CM Baghel) were raised by his supporters as Baghel arrived.

    According to Congress sources, the differences between Baghel and his rival, state health minister Singh Deo, would be soon resolved.

    He met Rahul Gandhi, party general secretary K C Venugopal and Congress’s state in-charge P L Punia and held discussions on the “state government’s schemes, development and political situation” and “they were apprised of the situation in Chhattisgarh,” Baghel said.

    “Punia ji has already clarified (about the rumours of leadership change). After his statement, is there anything left to be said?” the chief minister asked.

    After Rahul Gandhi’s meetings with Baghel and Singh Deo in Delhi on Tuesday, Punia had told reporters that they discussed development issues and not the leadership change.

    Asked about opposition BJP’s demand for clarification on the issue of rotation of CM’s post, Baghel said it was worried because there was a “farmers’ government” in Chhattisgarh.

    “The son of a farmer is the chief minister whom they (BJP) consider as their biggest challenge. The BJP has no answer to the culture of Chhattisgarh,” he said.

    The BJP was in power from 2003 to 2018, but now it is reduced to 14 seats in the 90-member assembly, he said.

    Asked about the slogans in his favour at the airport, Baghel said everyone was raising slogans in favour of “Soniaji, Rahulji and the Congress party.”

    When the Congress opted for Baghel for the top post following its victory in the 2018 assembly polls, there was speculation that Singh Deo, another contender in the fray, would be allowed to take over after half the term.

    Baghel completed two and a half years in office in June 2021.

  • Temporary truce in Chhattisgarh after Rahul meeting, Baghel to continue as CM  

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  A temporary truce deal between Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Health minister TS Singh Deo was worked out after a meeting with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to end the tiff between the two over leadership issues in the state.

    Sources said Baghel will continue to lead the state while Deo is likely to have a bigger say in the government with some of his people likely to be inducted in the cabinet.

    During the meeting, Baghel has been told not to interfere in work handled by Deo, who has complained that he was not even consulted in work related to his ministry.

    With trouble simmering between the two leaders for some time, both Baghel and Punia said that they would abide by the decision taken by the top leadership.

    Sources said that Deo being elevated as Deputy CM cannot be ruled out and AICC organisation in-charge KC Venugopal and state incharge PL Punia have been asked to work out a formula between the two leaders.

    Deo has been demanding change in leadership in the state on account that when the Congress government came to power in 2018, he was promised the post of CM during the second half of the government. Baghel completed the first half in June and since then,

    Deo has been pushing the party high command for the top post.

    However, the party denied any discussion on leadership change and said that talks were on issues related to the state and projects to be implemented in the state.

    “There was no discussion on change of leadership in Chhattisgarh,” said Punia after the meeting that lasted abround two and-a-half hours.

    Last month, Deo walked out of the Assembly after the Opposition created an uproar demanding a probe into Congress MLA Brihaspat Singh’s charge that the minister was behind an attack on him.

    Baghel likely to continue as CM

    While Bhupesh Baghel is likely to continue as chief minister, TS Singh Deo will get a bigger say in the government and may even be elevated to the post of deputy chief minister, said sources.

  • Bhupesh Baghel puts the ball in high command’s court on Chhattisgarh CM change

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  After Punjab, Congress is now facing trouble in Chhattisgarh unit with reports of tensions between Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his senior cabinet minister TS Singh Deo. Amid specualtions of leadership change in the state,  Baghle met top leadership in national capital on Sunday and said he would step down if asked by the party high command. 

    His comments came amid reports that his cabinet minister is pressing for a decision on chief ministership based on Rs 2.5-year-formula’. However, both Baghel and other Congress leaders dismissed talks of change at the top in the state.

    “If the Congress high command asks someone else to step in as chief minister of Chhattisgarh, it will be so. The high command instructed me to take oath (as CM), so I took the oath. The Congress has a three-fourth majority in Chhattisgarh. When they (high command) will say someone else will be the chief minister, then it will be so. Such agreements happen in a coalition government,” he said regarding speculations about the understanding that he will be the CM just for two-and-a-half years.

    Punia also said there was no such formula of changing chief ministers after a few years. “As Bhupesh Baghel ji also cleared, there is no such understanding or formula. The Congress party has a three-fourth majority in Chhattisgarh. Such an agreement happens in coalition governments,” he said. 

    Baghel also met Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, state in-charge P L Punia and organisation in-charge K C Venugopal. Party sources said the Chhattisgarh CM is likely to play a key role in preparing the Congress organisation in Uttar Pradesh for the assembly polls next year with a focus on strategising and booth management.

    Bhagel said that he was ready to take up responsibilities for the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh next year. “If the high command gives me any responsibility for upcoming elections in UP, I will do it,” he added.

  • Congress appoints TS Singh Deo as observer for Tripura council election

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Wednesday appointed Chhattisgarh Health Minister T S Singh Deo as the AICC observer for the upcoming Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (ADC) elections in Tripura.

    The elections to the 30-member Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) will be held on April 4 and counting of votes will take place on April 8.

    “Congress President has appointed T S Singh Deo as senior AICC observer for overseeing election campaign management and coordination in the upcoming Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (ADC) elections in Tripura with immediate effect,” an official statement said.

    The last date for submission of nominations is March 12, while the documents will be scrutinised on March 15 and the last date for withdrawal of the nominations is March 17, the State Election Commission said.

    The term of the council expired on May 17 last year, but the election was deferred by the State Election Commission due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Two seats in the 30-member council are nominated by the governor.

    A total of 8,65,041 voters are eligible to exercise their franchise.

    The TTAADC covers an area of 7,132. 56 sq km, which is two-thirds of Tripura’s territory and is home to tribals, who form around one-third of the state’s population.

  • Chhattisgarh says no to the use of Covaxin till clinical trial processes accomplished

    Express News Service
    RAIPUR: Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh government has categorically declared that it is not in favour of using indigenous Covid19-Covaxin in the vaccination process in the state unless it has completed the recommended testing process with absolute authentication and success.

    The state health minister T S Singh Deo said that it is “Not Safe” to use any vaccine, which remains in clinical trial mode, unless the safety and the details of all phases of testing with aftereffects are observed with confidence.

    “We mustn’t rush headlong into starting its widespread use but wait for completion of Phase-3 trials and appraisal. Rushing into general use before trials are complete will set a precedent where other companies will seek emergency use authorisation before completing the mandated trials”, the minister said and further added it may also jeopardise the valuable lives and health of Indian citizens.

    Regarding the Indian vaccine Covaxin, the AIIMS Centre for Community Medicine has recently publicised that Phase I/II trials for safe and immunogenicity have already been completed.

    While congratulating the researcher and scientists, Singh Deo though felt that it’s matter of pride for the advancement made by the Hyderabad-based firm Bharat Biotech, which received emergency approval.

    Chhattisgarh has already completed the vaccination dry run in its 28 districts.