News Analysis India

Tag: TS Singhdeo

  • TS Singhdeo Singhdeo flies to Delhi again, re-ignites speculations in Chhattisgarh

    Express News Service

    RAIPUR: Senior Chhattisgarh Congress leader TS Singhdeo yet again left for Delhi raising speculations on Monday after he concluded the review meetings of his concerned department of health and panchayat in Raipur. 

    Singhdeo returned to Chhattisgarh from Delhi on Saturday and looked confident to get a response on 2.5 years power-sharing formula from the party high command.

    The health minister’s trip to Delhi has again raised various assumptions being heard in the political circles though the sources close to him claimed that his “visit is personal”.

    According to the Congress party insiders, the decision on the issue regarding rotation of the CM post has been put-off as of now by the party high command.

    During the recent political drama over the power-sharing arrangement, Singhdeo had met Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on August 24 and later with the AICC general secretary KC Venugopal last Friday. There was then also a show of strength by the Chhattisgarh Congress MLAs and leaders in support of the chief minister Bhupesh Baghel in the national capital. 

    After his arrival in Raipur, Singhdeo had stated that the party high command has kept its decision reserved and whatever directive the Congressmen here receive from Delhi would be complied with by everyone in Chhattisgarh. 

  • Chhattisgarh Congress MLAs leave to Delhi for purported show of strength in support of CM Baghel

    Express News Service

    RAIPUR: Amid the intensified tussle within the Chhattisgarh Congress, a substantial number of the party MLAs including couple of ministers and some senior leaders left for Delhi on Thursday late evening in the purported attempt to show the head count in support of the Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel.

    In the recent months the party in Chhattisgarh has been witnessing differences simmering over the 2.5 years power-sharing formula between Baghel and the health minister T S Singhdeo.

    Baghel reached his half-way through tenure on June 17 this year.

    Both Baghel and Singhdeo camped in Delhi since Tuesday to hold discussions with the party high command and senior leaders. Singhdeo was dubbed as potential chief ministerial candidate amid rumours of “2.5 year formula” and change of CM in the state. The latter however put the speculations to rest on Thursday stating that the party has never spelled out any such power arrangement.

    To a query on whether the party legislators were summoned by the central leadership, the state Congress spokesperson told TNIE that no such directive has been given by the party high command.

    “They (MLAs) are going to Delhi on their own. We have not received any order from the Delhi leaders”, the spokesperson said.

    The party insiders informed that Congress MLAs flying to Delhi is likely to be seen as head count in support of the chief minister.

    “We are willing to put forth our views before the party high command”, a Congress MLA who left for Delhi said but refused to divulge details.

    After his return from Delhi on Wednesday, Baghel who was accorded a rousing reception at Raipur airport, has alleged that there are forces that wish to create political instability in the state by seeking rotation of the post of chief minister.

    On this, the former CM and BJP national vice-president Raman Singh asked Bhupesh to clarify about those demanding 2.5 year rotation of CM post. “It’s ridiculous that the Congress party despite having a huge majority in Chhattisgarh talks about political instability. Strange enough, the CM is facing threat from whom”, Singh stated.

  • Chhattisgarh health minister at loggerheads with CM Baghel over private rural health infra

    Express News Service
    RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and health minister have been at odds over the state government’s move to promote private healthcare in rural areas.

    On June 26, Baghel decided to offer grant to the specialist health professionals to set up their proiate nursing homes to offer health services in the villages of Chhattisgarh. He said that there are no provisions from the health department to encourage establishing of hospitals by private players they way industries can.

    “There is a need to strengthen the health infrastructure and services with specialist doctors deployed in the rural belts of Chhattisgarh and the government will offer the grant for the same,” the chief minister said while directing the industrial department to prepare an action plan within ten days.

    The state health minister has expressed his objection to any such proposal. “Neither this plan was discussed with me nor am I in favour of this decision. When the state has inadequate financial resources, giving away funds to private sector that will further charge the poor for treatment is something beyond my comprehension,” TS Singhdeo said.

    The health minister demanded to know “which specialist doctor will be eager to work in far-flung districts like Sukma or Bijapur when they are unwilling to leave Raipur.”

    “I fail to understand in what context such a decision was taken but I don’t agree with it,” he said .

    The opposition BJP took a dig at the ruling Congress government following the contradiction emerging between the CM and the health minister. “When there is no unanimous system of governance in place then how could one expect the health sector to grow in Chhattisgarh,” asked Raman Singh, former chief minister. 

    Recently, the decision of the chief minister to reshuffle district in-charge ministers caught the attention of many political observers who felt the move had evidently cut down the status of health, panchayat and rural development. Singhdeo who was initially in-charge of 12 Assembly constituencies is now left with only five.