Fresh uncertainty in Chhattisgarh 'power struggle'

Raipur: Uncertainty over the post of CM in Chhattisgarh has again started as reports of a rift between Bhupesh Baghel and Health Minister TS Singh Deo has come to the fore.

Meanwhile, Baghel in a media interaction said that the designation of CM is temporary and the decision is in the hands of party members.

Speaking to reporters, Baghel said, "I have no interest for the CM post but I want to work for people only. I know some people have problems with me and with the development of the state. If high command orders, then I will resign immediately."

If reports are to be believed, speculations were rife from a long time about sulking of TS Singh Deo, the second-in-command of Congress in Chhattisgarh.

It is widely believed that Singh Deo had been promised the CM post under 2.5 years formula of Rahul Gandhi for the second half of Congress term in the state.

But after the debacle of 2019 elections and ‘symbolic’ stepping down of Rahul Gandhi, the Baghel-Singh Deo rift has been growing apart.

A few days ago, Health Minister TS Singh Deo had told ETV Bharat, on the formula of two-and-a-half years that no CM's tenure is fixed here and nothing permanent happens in politics.

"We have seen both Arjun Singh as a two-day Chief Minister and a 15-year-long CM. Now the high command will decide about the post of CM according to the time and situation," Singh Deo told ETV Bharat.

There are other factions too which seem dissatisfied with Bhupesh Baghel Government. Speaker Charandas Mahant is unhappy being ignored and state PCC chief Mohan Markam is openly whining to reporters for removal of bureaucrats of his own government.

Recently, suddenly Congress state in-charge PL Punia, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, PCC Chief Mohan Markam, several cabinet ministers, MLAs and senior leaders reached TS Singh Deo's house for dinner.

At that time, various speculations started that TS Singh Deo was unhappy over the party and due to that reason, the dinner was kept to reduce the distance between CM and Singh Deo. Even at that time, the discussions of CMs' tenure also happened.