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Congress brass looks to check factionalism with elevation of Singh Deo as Chhattisgarh deputy CM
The first strategy meeting was focused on the party and the government’s preparations for the Chhattisgarh assembly polls but a second meeting in the evening led to Singh Deo’s elevation.
The thinking within the Congress brass that a divided house can’t fight the BJP and Chhattisgarh health minister TS Singh Deo’s “loyalty” to the party after being denied the chief minister’s seat were key factors that prompted party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and former president Rahul Gandhi to reward him with the deputy CM’s seat ahead of the assembly elections, people aware of the matter said on Wednesday.
The first strategy meeting was focused on the party and the government’s preparations for the Chhattisgarh assembly polls but a second meeting in the evening led to Singh Deo’s elevation.
“Two meetings took place in Delhi on the Chhattisgarh unit’s poll preparations. Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel realised when a second meeting took place in the evening that the writing was on the wall. The evening meeting was called by Kharge and party general secretary KC Venugopal and Chhattisgarh in-charge Kumari Selja were present.”
A functionary close to Kharge pointed out that after it managed to quell the rift between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar in Karnataka and the two led a united Congress to victory, the party will try its best to bury the differences among its top leaders before the elections. For the strategy meeting on Rajasthan, both CM Ashok Gehlot and his bete noire Sachin Pilot have been asked to come.
A senior leader close to Kharge said the party leadership is keen to reach a settlement.
“Two other factors went in Singh Deo’s favour. One, he didn’t try to stage a rebellion like Sachin Pilot and two, Singh Deo has his pockets of influence and the party didn’t want to take chances in the state known for close contests,” he said.
“Apparently, while TS Deo didnt issue any ultimatum, the Congress didn’t want to risk any factionalism, especially because Deo had claimed and many had corroborated that there was supposed to be a change of guard but Baghel had consolidated and refused to budge,” said another Congress leader.
The decision to elevate Singh Deo to the deputy CM’s post was planned by both Kharge and Gandhi, making it nearly impossible for Baghel to reject the proposal.
“In the meeting, the Congress leadership told Baghel and he didn’t resist too much. Before this there were a series of meetings between the two leaders and Selja,” said the third leader.