Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who is facing a challenge from TS Singh Deo for his job, travelled in Delhi today for his second meeting with Rahul Gandhi this week, sending tangible signs that he intends to fight.
There is an issue of leadership
“There is a leadership issue, which we are addressing,” said PL Punia, the Congress’s Chhattisgarh in-charge, admitting for the first time that a crisis exists.
In a show of strength by the Chief Minister, 55 Congress MLAs close to Mr Baghel have arrived in Delhi.
“I got a message yesterday that I needed to meet Rahul Gandhi, so I came. Our government is in good hands. Our 70 MLAs are working together. “Following his arrival in Delhi, Mr Baghel spoke to reporters.
He added the MLAs who have accompanied him, including three ministers: “Anyone can travel to Delhi to speak with their political leader. Everyone will get the opportunity to meet their leader.”
“We’ve arrived to speak with our leaders. Under the leadership of Bhupesh Baghel, our government is performing admirably.
We merely want to express our gratitude to the administration by requesting that they continue to bless us. “One of the ministers who went to Delhi last night was Amarjeet Bhagat.
Mr Baghel’s employment has been endangered by his minister, TS Singh Deo, who had demanded a rotational structure that he alleges was promised to him when Congress came to power in Chhattisgarh in 2018. In June, Mr Baghel finished his half-term.
According to sources, Mr Baghel received a clear indication that his position as Chief Minister is in jeopardy.
Since then, Mr Singh Deo has not returned to Raipur and is said to have promised to remain in Delhi until a judgment is made. Mr Baghel was also asked to stay, but he returned to the Chhattisgarh capital the next day, ostensibly rally MLAs to his cause.
In December 2018, Congress won 70 of the 90 seats in Chhattisgarh, leaving the governing BJP with only 14 seats.
The power struggle has pitted two of Congress’s leaders against each other in a humiliating numbers game. Mr Baghel’s supporters claim that he has the support of roughly 55 MLAs.
Officially, the Chief Minister has stated that he is prepared to leave as soon as the Gandhis say so.
“I will resign when Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi ask me to. Those who talk about a 2.5-year plan attempt to create political unrest, but they will never succeed. “On Wednesday, Mr Baghel told reporters.
Internal turmoil
Baghel and Deo’s feud was exposed in July when party MLA Brihaspat Singh accused the health minister of assassinating him after an attack on his convoy.
According to Singh, Deo allegedly attacked Singh’s convoy because he lauded Baghel and stated that he would serve as chief minister for the next 25 years. Deo’s departure from the Cabinet was afterwards demanded by Singh, accompanied by 20 Congress MLAs.
Deo stated that he would not attend the Assembly hearings unless the Congress administration clears him of the allegations.
The quarrel between Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and his former Cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu was settled by Congress just days before the crisis in Chhattisgarh.
Sidhu was named state party chief and four working presidents on July 18 by the All India Congress Committee.
