T.S. Singh Deo Shubhomoy Sikdar RAIPUR
The week-long deadlock in Chhattisgarh politics over senior Minister T.S. Singh Deo’s explosive “resignation letter” and majority of party MLAs demanding action against him for offering an “issue to the Bharatiya Janata Party on a platter” continues with the Congress’s central leadership keeping its cards close to its chest.
Mr. Singh Deo has been camping in the national capital for the past few days and has been unable to meet the senior leaders to raise his concerns that led to his resignation from the Panchayati Raj portfolio, which is seen as a fresh salvo in his purported leadership tussle with Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
On the other hand, Mr. Baghel was back in Raipur after a short trip to Delhi, his first since the leadership issue resurfaced with Mr. Singh Deo’s resignation.However, sources said no discussions were held over the prevailing situation in Chhattisgarh. The Chief Minister — who is the chief observer for the upcoming Assembly election in Himachal Pradesh — met leaders from the Himachal Congress. Congress leader Sachin Pilot, who is one of the two observers for the election, was also present in the meeting.
Meet with Sonia, Rahul
It was also speculated that Mr. Baghel would meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former president Rahul Gandhi to discuss the leadership issue but Mr. Gandhi is said to be unwell. Sources said the Chief Minister was likely to go back to Delhi after the Monsoon Session of the Chhattisgarh Assembly concludes on July 27.
On July 16, Mr. Singh Deo had stepped down as the Panchayati Raj Minister after attacking his own government for failing to construct eight lakh houses meant for rural poor under the Centre’s flagship Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). He alleged that his position as a Minister had been undermined against the set protocol in an unfair manner.
Last week, Mr. Baghel relieved Mr. Singh Deo from the Panchayati Raj Minister portfolio, and senior Cabinet Minister Ravindra Choubey was appointed Minister of Panchayat and Rural Development, even as both the Ministers kept their other portfolios.
This aggressive stance of the BJP had prompted a large number of MLAs to write a letter to the party high command demanding action against the defiant Minister.
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