Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday met Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and State Health Minister TS Singh Deo in an effort to resolve the power tussle between the two senior leaders in the State.
Party sources said that during the three-hour long meeting with the warring leaders, Rahul is believed to have convinced Deo to allow the smooth functioning of the present leadership of the State. Sources said Rahul cautioned Baghel over the complaints raised by TS Singh Deo and AICC general secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal.
They, along with State unit in-charge PL Punia, were present in the meeting held at Rahul Gandhi’s residence. Rahul asked Bhagel to address grievances raised by Deo.
Rahul first met the leaders separately and then together.
Baghel was told to keep his Cabinet colleagues in good faith after Singh Deo complained about the poor treatment meted out to him. The State Health Minister is said to have also raised the issue of the split tenure of the CM promised to him after the poll results in 2018, but Rahul reportedly conveyed him to work together to develop the State and strengthen the party.
The trouble in the State Government and party for now seems to have been contained. Both Bhupesh Baghel and Singh Deo had been summoned by the party high command amid reports of growing friction between the two. Briefing the media, Punia said that issues of development in the State were discussed during their meeting. He also denied that the leadership issue was discussed.
Singh Deo and Baghel have been at loggerheads after the former claimed that the leadership at the time of the election victory in 2018 had proposed a rotation of the Chief Minister’s post after 2.5 years. Both have said they would abide by the decision of the party high command. “Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are our leaders and we would abide by whatever they say,” Singh Deo told reporters before the meeting. Baghel has also said that whatever decision the leadership takes will be followed.