Even as intense speculations over a change of guard in Chhattisgarh continued, T.S. Singh Deo, the main protagonist and state health minister, on Thursday termed the much talked about ‘2.5 years (power-sharing) formula’ as a media speculation.
“The party (Congress) never spoke about the 2.5 years formula,” Singh Deo was quoted by news agency ANI as saying in New Delhi, where he has been camping for the past several days.
The minister, however, made his chief ministerial aspiration quite clear when he said, “If a person plays in a team then doesn't he think about becoming the captain? Won't you want to become one?”
He went on to say, “Everyone thinks about that but the question is not about his thoughts, it's about his capabilities.” He expectedly added: “The high command takes a decision”.
The veteran Congress leader was further quoted as saying “He (Bhupesh Baghel) might be the CM for 50 years or 10 years or two years. This is not fixed. There is rivalry even among siblings. Healthy competitions take place. I will carry out the responsibility that is given by the high command.”
Singh Deo is locked in what now seems to be an open power tussle with Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. While both the leaders met Congress ex-president Rahul Gandhi and AICC general secretary (organization) K.C. Venugopal in Delhi during the past two days, apparently to resolve the issue, any decisive outcome remains to be seen.
Thus intense speculation about the issue is going on in Raipur as well as in New Delhi.
In Raipur, a flurry of political activities continued after Baghel returned to a huge welcome on Wednesday afternoon. A section of MLAs and ministers held a series of meetings on Wednesday night and throughout Thursday and there were reports that about a dozen MLAs and two or three ministers were likely to go to Delhi and meet senior functionaries of the party to pitch in for continuation of Baghel as CM.
Sources said that Baghel was likely to visit New Delhi again on Friday to meet senior leaders of the party and a decisive step might be announced soon.
There have been mixed reactions among political watchers about the huge show of solidarity and support for Baghel at Raipur airport on Wednesday. While some felt that it was a show of confidence by Baghel that he was firmly in the saddle, others said that such a show was not necessary if indeed Baghel was confident and that he was just trying to showcase his local support.
Political watchers feel that Baghel carries much political weight compared to Singh Deo as of now, being a ground-level, popular and performer leader who also belongs to the OBC community that is currently in political focus. But whether the soft persuasive ways of Singh Deo, who is yet to make any rebellious statement openly despite apparently being promised a share in power pie, scores over Baghel’s political weight remains to be seen.