Raipur, Dec 15 (UNI) Hectic parleys are on to select the next chief minister of Chhattisgarh with meetings being held with Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi with possible contenders to zero in on a name for the post.
It is expected that a consensus would emerge at a meeting of newly elected legislators of Congress, scheduled to be held in Raipur on Saturday evening.
After 15 years of hibernation, Congress has come back to power with more than two third majority in assembly elections in Chhattisgarh.
AICC President Rahul Gandhi and contenders for Chhattisgarh Chief Ministerial post held another round of meeting in Delhi on Saturday after which all of them are learnt to have left for Raipur by a special flight.
Gandhi held one-on-one talks with the contenders. During joint meeting held subsequently, all the contenders assured Mr Gandhi that whatever decision he would take, it would be acceptable to all of them.
According to sources, party’s central observer Mallikarjun Kharge and state in-charge PL Punia would attend meeting of party’s newly elected legislators including all the contenders at State Congress Office in Raipur at 1700 hours on Saturday. The contenders would put forward the name decided by the AICC President, at the meeting for approval.
Bhupesh Baghel who took over the charge of party’s state president immediately after party’s defeat in previous assembly elections is considered as front runner for the post of Chief Minister. Congress working committee member Tamradhwaj Sahu too is considered as a contender for this post. Durg MP Tamradhwaj Sahu contested assembly election on the instruction of Rahul Gandhi at the eleventh hour of filing nomination paper.
Bhupesh Baghel had to go to jail in connection with CD scandal of state. In spite of all odds he tried to strengthen the party. Mr Baghel served as a Minister in Digvijay Singh government in undivided Madhya Pradesh and also in the Jogi government dispensation after Chhattisgarh state formation.
Another prominent contender for the Chief Ministerial post TS Singhdeo worked in coordination with Baghel till the start of election campaign and stood by him through thick and thin. However, minor differences kept cropping up on and off between the leaders.
Another contender Former Union Minister Dr Charandas Mahant had been a part of the Madhya Pradesh Government for a long time. He is popular for his simplicity and friendliness.
Three main contenders-Baghel, Sahu and Mahant belong to other backward classes, while one contender Singhdeo belongs to general category. Singhdeo is former Raja (King) of Sarguja.
UNI AS-RK GK SY 1434