Congress high-command has called Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel again for a crucial meeting on Friday to take a decision on lingering crisis about the rumoured issue for replacing Baghel as he completed his two-and-half-year term which was reportedly agreed upon in late 2018.
Congress central leadership has already held a separate meeting with Baghel and Singh Deo earlier this week but the latter is lobbying hard in national capital and exerting pressure on weak party high command to replace a popular Chief Minister who belongs to a dominant OBC community which makes up more than 50 percent of state’s total population.
Majority of Congress MLAs have too started rushing to Delhi since Thursday evening in a desperate bid to support their leaders. Baghel is said to be the favourite of the majority of the MLAs.
Sources said that Rahul Gandhi is visibly upset over the issues between the two leaders and has asked secretary general (organisation) K.C. Venugopal to sort them out soon.
Meanwhile, Baghel received a huge welcome in Raipur on his return from Delhi on Wednesday after meeting Rahul Gandhi and he reiterated, "I will step down when Sonia Ji and Rahul Ji order me. Those talking about a 2.5 years plan are trying to bring political instability but will never succeed,".
On Tuesday, the meeting of Rahul Gandhi with warring top leaders of Chhattisgarh lasted for over two and a half hours in New Delhi and Chhattisgarh Congress in-charge P.L. Punia while speaking to the media said, "there was no discussion on change of leadership in Chhattisgarh."
The meeting of these two leaders with Rahul Gandhi came amid Deo's reported claims for the top post in the state, demanding rotational chief ministership.