Posturing to maintain balance on Congress' seesaw in Chhattisgarh

TS Singh Deo reminds central party of its promise to make him CM for half the government's term. But Bhupesh Baghel deflects it. R KRISHNA DAS on the political rumblings

- R KRISHNA DAS

What is Chhattisgarh Chief Minister (CM) Bhupesh Baghel's biggest talent? Turning crises into opportunities.

During the Congress' 85th plenary session held in the Chhattisgarh capital in February this year, Baghel planned a historic welcome for former Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Both landed in Raipur on February 24. The newly elected Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was, however, missing from the list.

On grounds of Sonia's ill health, the event was back-burnered since Rahul, too, showed little interest. The following day, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrived and Baghel's supporters rolled out a carpet of rose petals for the Congress general secretary. The reception was unparalleled: over 6,000 kilos of rose petals covered a 2-kilometre stretch of road.

When Baghel invited Priyanka to informally kick off the poll campaign from the tribal-predominated Bastar region on Thursday (April 13), not many Congressmen understood the logic.

The message was overt: Chhattisgarh CM was betting on Priyanka - and she has never disappointed him,

Addressing a groundswell of support in Jagdalpur, Priyanka praised the development work of the Baghel government and appealed to voters to give the Congress government another term in office.

Chhattisgarh goes to polls later this year. The highlight of Privanka's speech was her remark about Baghel never back-biting during his visits to the national Capital.