Congress high-command seems to be underestimating Chhattisgarh’s powerful OBC leader Bhupesh Baghel who single-handedly steered the grand old party in late 2018 to return to power in the mining state after a gap of a decade-and-half of the BJP rule.
The OBC community makes up roughly half of state's estimated 2.75 crore population and Baghel is the undisputed leader of the community.
There is a wider perception in Chhattisgarh that Congress top leadership is underestimating a seasoned politician Baghel on Rs misleading inputs’ from a bunch of vested persons and a few major mining players.
It will certainly be a monumental mistake by Congress central leadership if it replaces Baghel as the Chief Minister. Congress workers in Chhattisgarh are hoping that better sense will prevail in Delhi and the party high-command will not hurt Chhattisgarhia’s pride which only Baghel symbolises.
Baghel has clear backing of at least 55 MLAs who could go to any extent if party high-command ignores their wishes. Congress has total 70 MLAs in the 90-member state assembly. The scion of the Surguja royal family TS Singh Deo allegedly backed by a major mining company, is pushing hard in his bid to replace Baghel, claiming he was promised in late 2018 that he would succeed to Baghel after the latter completes his two-and-half-year term.
Analysts in Chhattisgarh have been surprised at the way the Congress high-command is attempting to handle the entire episode as Singh Deo lacks acceptability among the party cadres and appeal in masses.
Majority of the Congress MLAs say Rs what is the need to create a political uncertainty’ in the state when Baghel is performing Rs exceptionally well’ and the Congress high-command too has acknowledged it publicly.
Analysts also claim that the Congress high-command needs to read writing on the wall and should not commit suicide in Chhattisgarh. If Baghel is replaced, the dominant OBC community will never accept this humiliation and the party will have to wait for another 15 years to explore chances of making a comeback in the state.