Twenty five Congress MLAs likely to resign over CM’s selection in Chhattisgarh

According to a report in Patrika, around 25 newly elected MLAs of the Congress party are not satisfied with the apparent choice of Chief Minister in Chhattisgarh. The impasse over the choice of the CM continues in Chhattisgarh even after five days of the announcement of assembly elections results. Amidst the deadlock, there are reports that 25 MLAs of the Congress have threatened to quit the party and support Ajit Jogi’s party Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) if the party declares Tamradhwaj Sahu as the next CM of the state.

According to reports, these 25 newly elected MLAs conducted a secret meeting in a famous farmhouse near the airport in which they opposed Tamradhwaj Sahu’s candidature as the next CM of the state. If Tamradhwaj Sahu is appointed as the next CM of the state then these MLAs might leave the party and join Ajit Jogi’s JCC.

Also, the supporters of the Congress state President Bhupesh Baghel launched protest after the news of Tamradhwai Sahu being anointed as the next CM surfaced. The protestors raised slogans in support of Bhupesh Baghel and demanded his name for the post of Chief Minister. Not only this, but his supporters also threatened to resign from the party if the party refuses to appoint Bhupesh Baghel as the CM of Chhattisgarh.

According to reports, the Congress party is likely to end suspense over Chhattisgarh CM today. Four MLAs — Bhupesh Baghel, TS Singh Deo, Tamradhwaj Sahu, and Charan Das Mahant — are vying for the CM post.

On 15 December, Congress President Rahul Gandhi held deliberations with the four leaders at his Tughlaq Lane residence in Delhi.

On Saturday, Samri MLA Chintamani Maharaj told PTI, “I want TS Singh Deo to become chief minister and we have expressed our feelings to Kharge ji. However, we will abide by any decision that the party high command takes.” He further added that over 40 of the 68 newly-elected legislators want to see Deo as CM.

Meanwhile, Congress’ Durg district general secretary Kaushal Chandrakar maintained that Baghel should be installed as the CM as he has worked hard and has given the party a new life in the state where it was out of power since 2003. He said, “The credit for the massive victory goes to Baghel and he should become CM.”

Everyone is waiting for the Congress’ high command to declare the name of the next CM of Chhattisgarh. The BJP is raising questions over the delay in announcing the CM’s name. The BJP state general secretary Sachchidanand Upasane asked how the grand old parties intend to run the government when it is taking so much time to appoint a chief minister.

Meanwhile, the state Congress Chief Bhupesh Baghel said that Congress top leaders will go to Raipur in a couple of hours and the announcement of CM candidate will take place in MLA’s meeting.

Supporters of different leaders of the party in Chhattisgarh are hell-bent on getting their leader installed as the CM. It would be interesting to see the reactions of the Congress MLAs once the name of the chief minister is declared.