Chhattisgarh Congress consultations begin to choose CM

Raipur, Dec 12 (UNI) Consultations of MLAs of Indian National Congress commenced this evening to confer on the choice of the new Chief Minister following the party's overwhelming victory with more than two thirds majority in the Assembly elections.

Party state general secretary and communications head Shailesh Nitin Trivedi told UNI that the deliberations of the newly-elected MLAs of the party are being held at a city hotel.

Central observer Mallikarjun Kharge, party’s state in-charge PL Punia, party in-charge secretary Dr Chandan Yadav and Dr Arun Urao are attend the consultations.

According to Mr Punia, the newly-elected MLAs would be consulted for the choice of Chief Minister.

The party high command would then be apprised of the opinion of MLAs and subsequently the name of Chief Minister would be announced. This will not take much time, Mr Punia said, adding that the new government would be formed at the earliest.

Ground-level feedback

INC president Rahul Gandhi has begun consulting party workers to know their choice and opinion for the post.

Mr Gandhi, greeting the party workers in the state through ‘Shakti App’, has sought their opinion and choice for the post of chief minister. He has assured them that their option will be kept confidential.

According to party sources, Mr Gandhi contacted the party’s state and district office bearers today for consultation. All office bearers were informed that they would get phone calls from the INC president.

Party workers felt proud that their views have been solicited to finalise the name of Chief Minister. Some of them view this as a change in the INC.

In the race

Lobbies of supporters for contenders of Chief Ministerial post swung into action. Backers of opposition leader and strong contender for Chief Ministerial post TS Singhdeo have put up hoardings in his support at different parts of city. The hoardings showed Mr Singhdeo extending felicitations on the huge victory of the 150-year-old party in the state polls.

Followers of another contender and former Union Minister, Dr Charandas Mahant, too, erected hoardings at various places in the city. Mr Mahant’s birthday falls tomorrow. Some of the hoardings greeted him on his birthday.

Bhupesh Baghel, who took up the responsibility of Pradesh Congress Committee chief, after the party’s defeat in previous assembly elections, was also seen as a front runner for the post of Chief Minister.

Congress Working Committee member Tamradhwaj Sahu was also in the race for the CM post. The Durg Member of Parliament had contested the Assembly election on instruction of Mr Gandhi at the eleventh hour of the process of filing nomination papers.

Though posters and hoardings of both the leaders are not seen in the state capital, they are very popular and credible faces among the party workers. Mr Baghel had been aggressively and relentlessly running campaign against the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the naxalite-affected state for the past five years. He had to undergo harassment and even face charges. Mr Baghel had to go to jail in connection with the CD scandal in the state. In spite of all such odds he tried to strengthen the party. Mr Baghel served as a minister in the Digvijay Singh government in undivided Madhya Pradesh and also in the Ajit Jogi dispensation after Chhattisgarh state formation.

And the winner is

Opposition leader TS Singhdeo worked in coordination with Mr Baghel till the start of election campaign and stood by him through thick and thin. However, minor differences kept cropping up off and on between both the leaders.

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.

According to party’s state in-charge PL Punia, after consultation with newly elected MLAs, the party high command will finalise the name of Chief Minister.