New Delhi: While Congress is battling a political storm in Punjab following the resignation of state PCC chief Navjot Sidhu, a new crisis is likely for the Gandhi family as over a dozen Congress MLAs arrived in Delhi on Wednesday.
With the suspense continuing regarding the change of leadership in the Congress-ruled state, once again the political heat seems to be intensifying in Chhattisgarh.
The political corridor in the state is buzzing with speculations that the MLAs have gone to show their support to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
However, the legislators who reached the national capital said that their visit is linked to the proposed visit of former Congress president Rahul Gandhi to the state.
“Around 15-16 party MLAs have reached Delhi and are staying at different places. Rahul ji’s visit to Chhattisgarh is proposed. We wanted to request Rahul ji through our state in-charge PL Punia ji to take a little more The party MLA from Ramanujganj seat of the state Brihaspat Singh said that the duration of his tour so that all the MLAs can get the benefit of it.
He told PTI over phone from Delhi, “We have come to Delhi only to make this request and we will talk to Punia sir in this regard on Thursday. Our journey should not be seen in any other way.
Asked whether the purpose of his visit was to express support to Baghel, Singh said, “Our party has 70 MLAs (in the 90-member state assembly), out of which 60 MLAs told everything to Punia ji last time. When there is blessings of high command, support of MLAs and Chief Minister is doing good work, then no such issue (of change of leadership) exists.”
He also denied the alleged tussle between Baghel and state health minister TS Singh Deo and said that the two leaders recently shared dais and exchanged sweets. He also said that they respect each other.
Without naming anyone, he said, “The situation in Chhattisgarh is not like Punjab. The high command of any party will not put the entire government at stake just to please one leader.”
The demand for a change of guard raised its head after Baghel completed two and a half years as chief minister in June 2021. The Singh Deo camp claimed that in 2018 the high command had agreed to hand over the post to him after the government had completed half. Period.
State Congress in-charge PL Punia has repeatedly denied that there was any such agreement when the BJP came to power in 2018 by overthrowing it.
Meanwhile, Captain Amarinder Singh, who recently resigned as Punjab Chief Minister amid a bitter feud in Punjab, held an hour-long meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, fueling speculations of a change in the camp. The Captain, however, denied all speculations and said that he had met the Home Minister to discuss the farmer’s protest.
(with PTI inputs)
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