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HT interview: Congress has given recognition... will have collective leadership, says TS Singh Deo
A day after his appointment, Singhdeo said that the idea of his being deputy CM was first floated in 2022
Late on Wednesday night, with less than six months to go for a crucial assembly election, the Congress announced the appointment of TS Singh Deo as Chhattisgarh’s new deputy chief minister. Singh Deo’s relationship with chief minister Baghel, both of whom vied for the top spot when the Congress swept to power in 2018, has often been fractious, with MLA’s being paraded in Delhi in shows of strength, and Singh Deo even resigning from one of his ministries. In an interview with HT a day after his appointment, Singhdeo said that the idea of his being deputy CM was first floated in 2022, that the party must work together, and that while Baghel is captain and he is “vice captain”, there will be “collective leadership.” Edited excerpts:
When was the idea of you being deputy chief minister first floated?
There was some mention of it after I had left the panchayat department [in July 2022]. The decision had to be taken by the high command and whenever the high command told me whatever they wanted, I would have abided by that.
But if it was mooted at that point, why the delay?
I could not have an interaction with the high command. That has taken quite some time.
Will this appointment not seem like a climb down from the sense that you were in the running for chief minister but are now deputy chief minister?
It may [seem like a climb down] but it may also not. If you see it from the point of view that nothing was happening and the five-year period [of the Congress government in Chhattisgarh] is coming to a close, then the high command has given you some recognition.
Chhattisgarh is heading into an election in six months. Have there been any other promises made to you particularly in your areas of influence?
Nothing as such from the high command, but the overall idea is that we should be working unitedly.
What is your sense of the state of play in Chhattisgarh?
Five months to go now. In fact, we have three months before the code of conduct sets in. Then from October and November another two months of campaigning. I am looking at a clear majority. Very optimistically and not too unrealistically, I expect a climb up from where we are. In another five or so seats; we can cross 75. If you take other possibilities in mind, two-thirds would be sixty. So my sense is between 60 and 75 seats.
If you had to mark down two areas of concern politically for the Congress in Chhattisgarh, what would they be?
We have to look after the statewide interests of government servants. Our manifesto mentioned a lot of things for them. That needs addressing to whatever extent is possible. The second would be in tribal areas where the Sarva Adivasi Samaj is there. They contested the Bhanupratappur by election. Before this they were purely a social organisation. We have to make every attempt to make sure we work together towards a common cause which is the betterment of the tribals in Chhattisgarh and the development of their area.
Does this decision mean now that it is clear that chief minister Baghel is the chief ministerial face or is it about that oft-used term collective leadership?
There will be collective leadership. That is the essence of the parliamentary form of government. The prime minister or the chief minister is the first among equals. That is an accepted situation wherever there is a cabinet style government. That will apply. As the sitting chief minister, he will lead the team.
There has always been talk of the fissures in your relationship with the CM. Since the announcement, what have the two of you spoken about?
Even earlier they [conversations] would be fairly tension free. [laughs] . We were able to talk to each other and conversations were never an issue. Even now, we are fairly warm with each other.
