Chhattisgarh CM Baghel, Singh Deo to meet Cong high command amid turf war

Singh Deo, who is visiting the national capital, said he has sought time to meet the party top brass.

Updated on: Jul 23, 2022, 23:56:32 IST

By Ritesh Mishra, Raipur

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Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and his cabinet colleague TS Singh Deo, who are locked in a power tussle, are likely to meet the Congress high command separately in Delhi in the coming days, party functionaries said on Saturday.

The rift in the ruling Congress in Chhattisgarh deepened on July 16 when TS Singh Deo resigned from the Panchayat and Rural development department, one of the five portfolios he held. (PTI)

The developments come a week after Singh Deo quit a portfolio he held in the Baghel cabinet.

“The chief minister will be reaching Delhi on Saturday evening. He has some other meetings and can also meet Congress high command to explain recent political developments in the state,” said a functionary close to Baghel.

Singh Deo, who is also reaching the national capital on Saturday, said he has sought time to meet the party top brass.

“I have asked for time and will meet the high command if I get time,” Singh Deo said.

The rift in the ruling Congress in the state deepened on July 16 when Singh Deo resigned from the Panchayat and Rural development department, one of the five portfolios he held.

He continues to remain minister for health and family welfare, medical education, twenty point implementation and commercial tax (GST) departments.

In his resignation letter to the chief minister, Singh Deo alleged that not a single house was built for homeless people under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana as funds were not allotted despite “repeated request”.

He also alleged he was unable to fulfil the targets of the department as per the vision of the Jan Ghoshna Patra (poll manifesto) amid the “current scenario”.

The charges echoed in the state assembly on July 20 when the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded a statement from Baghel on the matter. The BJP claimed that Singh Deo himself has expressed “no confidence” in the government’s functioning, leading to a “constitutional crisis”.

On Thursday, Baghel handed over the charge of panchayat and rural development department to senior minister Ravindra Chaubey.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

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