Posturing to maintain balance on Congress' seesaw in Chhattisgarh

T S Singh Deo reminds central party of its promise to make him CM for half the government's term. But Bhupesh Baghel deflects it. R Krishna Das on the political rumblings

What is Chhattisgarh Chief Minister (CM) Bhupesh Baghel’s biggest talent? Turning crises into opportunities.

During the Congress’ 85th plenary session held in the Chhattisgarh capital in February this year, Baghel planned a historic welcome for former Congress presidents Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. Both landed in Raipur on February 24. The newly elected Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge was, however, missing from the list.

On grounds of Sonia’s ill health, the event was back-burnered since Rahul, too, showed little interest. The following day, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra arrived and Baghel’s supporters rolled out a carpet of rose petals for the Congress general secretary. The reception was unparalleled: over 6,000 kilos of rose petals covered a 2-kilometre stretch of road.

When Baghel invited Priyanka to informally kick off the poll campaign from the tribal-predominated Bastar region on Thursday (April 13), not many Congressmen understood the logic.

The message was overt: Chhattisgarh CM was betting on Priyanka — and she has never disappointed him.

Addressing a groundswell of support in Jagdalpur, Priyanka praised the development work of the Baghel government and appealed to voters to give the Congress government another term in office.

Chhattisgarh goes to polls later this year. The highlight of Priyanka’s speech was her remark about Baghel never back-biting during his visits to the national Capital.

Observers were quick to draw an inference to Baghel’s bête noire T S Singh Deo and Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker Charan Das Mahant, who last week met Sonia. Both are considered close to Sonia. Singh Deo later had a one-on-one with Sonia Gandhi.

Singh Deo also met senior party leaders, including newly appointed Chhattisgarh in-charge for party affairs Kumari Selja, whose affection has been more for the organisation than individuals. This had Baghel supporters suspecting she could be inclined to pay equal attention to the rebels. After touching down in Raipur, Singh Deo addressed the waiting media, saying he and Sonia had discussed “family matters”.

However, he again stirred the political cauldron stating that in state politics, he was not an extra.

“It hurts when people ask about the power-sharing formula (of half-term of the two and a half years each with Baghel) and it is not realised,” says Singh Deo.

According to Congress insiders, Priyanka firmly stood behind Baghel on the issue of the formula that was reportedly created in the presence of her brother Rahul.

Two years ago, when there was a scuttlebutt doing the rounds of a change of guard, Priyanka reportedly came out in unstinted support of Baghel and defused the crisis. The proximity between Priyanka and Baghel strengthened during the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections last year when she spearheaded the campaign.

“Baghel knows he is pulling the right strings,” observes a political analyst.

Priyanka has been firmly supporting Baghel on the power-sharing issue since she has not been part of the formula designed by her brother, says the analyst, adding that in case Rahul and Sonia get entangled in a legal quagmire, it will be Priyanka who will be in the saddle.

Against the backdrop of Sachin Pilot’s hunger strike against his own Congress government, the rumour of a Rajasthan-like political ferment grew in size like a rolling tumbleweed in Chhattisgarh.

But it is never easy to openly revolt against Baghel. Any coup has to be led by Singh Deo, who prefers to avoid confrontation despite being from the politically powerful royal family of Surguja.

Singh Deo was crowned Maharaja (titular) of Surguja in 2001 in the same year Jyotiraditya Scindia became Maharaja of Gwalior. Scindia split the party in Madhya Pradesh. Singh Deo is disinclined.

“Had Singh Deo been aggressive, he would have contested two years ago. Now it makes no sense when barely six-odd months are left for the elections,” says a senior Congress leader.

For Singh Deo, party discipline has been paramount. This is the reason he has never openly resisted, regardless of playing a crucial role in bringing the Congress to power in Chhattisgarh by short-listing the critical issues against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the party’s election manifesto committee chief in 2018, the leader adds.

However, there is a technical reason that prevents the Baghel government from being an easy target for poaching. In the 90-member Chhattisgarh Legislature Assembly, Congress has 71 seats, with the BJP confined to just 14. The yawning gap is the shield for the government to prevent any attempt to subvert it. When Baghel spotted potential rebels, he took steps to rein them in.

According to Congress leaders, attempts are on to replace State Congress President Mohan Markam, who was reportedly disposed towards the anti-Baghel camp. If this happens, Baghel will also have the final say on ticket distribution for the ensuing polls.