The Congress on Wednesday appointed senior Chhattisgarh leader TS Singh Deo as the deputy chief minister ahead of the crucial assembly elections in the state this year.
In a statement, the Congress said that party chief Mallikarjun Kharge cleared the proposal for the appointment of Singh Deo, who was locked in a power tussle with chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, as deputy chief minister of the state.
“Hon’ble Congress President has approved the proposal for the appointment of Shri T.S. Singh Deo as the Deputy Chief Minister in the Chhattisgarh Government,” the statement, signed by AICC general secretary KC Venugopal said.
Soon after the announcement, Singh Deo told news agency ANI: “The Congress party has allowed me to work and the leadership has given me responsibilities. We have to take everyone along. Even in a limited time frame, we have to do all we can, together, for the betterment of the Congress, and for the betterment of Chhattisgarh and its citizens.
Chief minister Baghel shared a photograph with Singh Deo and congratulated the latter on his new role . “We are ready. Congratulations and best wishes to Maharaj Saheb for his responsibility as Deputy Chief Minister,” Baghel tweeted.
In a tweet, Venugopal called Singh Deo an “able administrator”. “He (Singh Deo) is a loyal Congress leader and an able administrator. The state will benefit greatly from his services as deputy chief minister. We are confident that the people of Chhattisgarh will re-elect the Congress with a thumping majority under the leadership of Kharge ji and Rahul Gandhi ji,” he posted on the micro-blogging site.
{{/usCountry}}In a tweet, Venugopal called Singh Deo an “able administrator”. “He (Singh Deo) is a loyal Congress leader and an able administrator. The state will benefit greatly from his services as deputy chief minister. We are confident that the people of Chhattisgarh will re-elect the Congress with a thumping majority under the leadership of Kharge ji and Rahul Gandhi ji,” he posted on the micro-blogging site.
{{/usCountry}}Singh Deo has had a fractious relationship with Baghel, with both vying for the top post when the Congress swept to power in Chhattisgarh in 2018, by dislodging the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after winning 68 of 90 seats. Baghel, who was then state party president, and Singh Deo, then leader of the party in the state legislature, spent several days in Delhi, attempting to thrash out a solution. Those close to Singh Deo argued that a two-and-a-half year rotational system, where he would take over for the second half of the tenure, was thrashed out. The Baghel camp has always denied this. The matter led to friction between the two leaders, prompting the party high command to intervene in September 2021 when several MLAs arrived in Delhi, showing their allegiance to Baghel. As rumours of a change in guard swirled, Singh Deo resigned from one of his portfolios of rural development in July 2022.
Wednesday’s announcement triggered mixed reactions among Congress leaders.
“The Congress can now improve its prospects (in polls) in north Chhattisgarh where Singh Deo commands considerable influence,” a state leader said, seeking anonymity,
Another Congress leader, close to Baghel, said Tamradhwaj Sahu, who is home minister and a senior OBC leader, should also have been elevated. “His elevation would have pleased the Sahu voters, and the BJP will now raise this issue,” the leader said, also seeking anonymity.
Reacting to Singh Deo’s appointment, BJP spokesperson Sachidanand Upasne said: “Singh Deo’s elevation shows the frustration of Congress. It is demeaning to see that he has been given the post for just three months. The people of the state know that this will have no impact on the elections.”
Political commentator Sudeip Shrivastva said: “It will minimise factionalism in the Congress even as the BJP is still a divided house.”