It’s Baghel for Chhattisgarh

Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, December 16

The Congress today solved the Chhattisgarh puzzle by naming state chief Bhupesh Baghel the new Chief Minister. Baghel will take oath of office along with Kamal Nath in Madhya Pradesh and Ashok Gehlot in Rajasthan tomorrow.

Party chief Rahul Gandhi will attend the swearing-in ceremonies of all three Chief Ministers along with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Schedules of ceremonies have been staggered to ensure that the Gandhis and Opposition veterans can make it in time — 10.15 am in Jaipur, 1.15 pm in Bhopal and 4.30 pm in Raipur.

All eyes will, however, be on whether BSP chief Mayawati and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav attend Kamal Nath’s oath- taking ceremony in Bhopal. Both parties have loaned their MLAs to the Congress, which fell short of the simple majority for government formation in Madhya Pradesh.

So far as the age profile of Congress CMs goes, Baghel will be the youngest. He is 57 as against Gehlot, who is 67, and Kamal Nath, 72.

Baghel’s appointment came as a surprise to many considering he is out on bail in a sex CD scandal that had hit headlines on the eve of state elections. Baghel had also spent some time in jail although he has claimed innocence.

The decision on Baghel came after a series of consultations Rahul Gandhi held with all the four contenders  — AICC OBC cell chief Tamradhwaj Sahu, outgoing CLP chief TS Singhdeo, former Union minister Charandas Mahant and Baghel himself.

Sources said backing by AICC incharge of Chhattisgarh PL Punia worked for Baghel, an OBC representing Kurmis. The game changed after Singhdeo, Mahant and Baghel yesterday revolted against Gandhi’s original choice — Lok Sabha MP from Durg Tamradhwaj Sahu.

“State leaders said Sahu being a Lok Sabha MP would not be acceptable to MLAs. They said the first claim on CM’s position was that of the state MLAs, who had worked to expose the Raman Singh- led BJP government,” a Congress insider said.

Sources said division of CM’s tenures between Baghel and Singhdeo was considered but dropped after some Congress seniors argued that it would send conflicting signals to the cadres and the rival BJP. Besides, a section of the Congress also felt it was better to appoint an OBC leader as CM rather than Singhdeo, a royal from Ambikapur.

Farm loan waiver at first cabinet meeting

In the first Cabinet meeting, the loan waiver will be announced. Promises made by Congress president Rahul Gandhi to farmers will be our first priority. Our focus will be on the welfare of farmers, tribals, youth, women and small traders, Bhupesh Baghel, CM-designate