Amid Chhattisgarh crisis, Congress appoints Baghel as senior observer for UP election 2022

In the midst of rumours about a change of guard in Chhattisgarh, the Congress party has named chief minister Bhupesh Baghel as its senior observer for the next Uttar Pradesh assembly elections planned for 2022. 

Baghel, who played a critical role in the Assam assembly elections by leading a team that conducted comprehensive booth training for party members, had already reviewed the UP election preparations with Congress general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Baghel stated in Raipur that Chhattisgarh would never become Punjab. His response came after BJP senior leader and former chief minister Raman Singh stated that Chhattisgarh is transforming like Punjab.

Baghel's comment also came when about 30 MLAs were camping in Delhi to persuade the state's high command not to replace the state's leadership.

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In recent days, tensions have been high inside the Chhattisgarh Congress, with MLAs coming in Delhi in a claimed show of strength. The Congress appears to be divided into two groups in the state, one led by Baghel and the other by state health minister TS Singh Deo.

The demand for a change of guard in Chhattisgarh arose after Baghel completed his two-and-a-half-year term as chief minister in June 2021, and Singh Deo's supporters demanded a change in leadership despite the Congress's failure to mention rotation in the state's top position when it came to power in 2018.

The presence of these MLAs is interpreted as a show of force. They are seeking appointments from high command and state in-charge PL Punia in order to persuade them not to repeat the Punjab example, in which the current chief minister, Capt Amrinder Singh, was forced to quit.

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• Congress
• UP polls
• Bhupesh Baghel
• Priyanka Gandhi