The Congress party has appointed TS Singh Deo as the Deputy Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, in a move seen as crucial ahead of the upcoming assembly polls. The decision was announced by Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, who stated that INC President Mallikarjun Kharge had approved the proposal. Praising Singh Deo as a loyal Congress leader and an able administrator, Venugopal expressed confidence that the state would greatly benefit from his services as Deputy CM.
Shortly after the announcement, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel took to Twitter to congratulate Singh Deo on his new role. Baghel wished him the best and acknowledged his responsibility as Deputy Chief Minister.
The appointment of TS Singh Deo comes after a period of contention between him and Bhupesh Baghel, who were the top two contenders for the chief minister’s post when Congress came to power in Chhattisgarh in 2018. Baghel emerged as the chief minister at that time, but there were reports of a supposed power-sharing formula within the party. According to the alleged formula, Singh Deo was to assume the top post for two and a half years. However, Baghel remained in office, and Congress never provided clarity on whether such an understanding existed. This situation created tensions between Singh Deo and Baghel, leading to a strained relationship between the two leaders over the past two years.
In April of this year, Singh Deo expressed disappointment over the purported “2.5-2.5 years CM” formula in the media. He claimed that he and his ministers were not free to discuss what transpired behind closed doors.
The appointment of Singh Deo as Deputy CM is expected to have significant implications for the upcoming Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, scheduled to be held later this year. The state will elect all 90 members of the legislative assembly in this crucial political contest.
The Congress party’s decision to appoint TS Singh Deo as Deputy Chief Minister signals a strategic move to strengthen its position ahead of the assembly polls. The developments within the party leadership will likely shape the political landscape in Chhattisgarh in the months to come.
Sources By Agencies
