HIGHLIGHTS: Congress likely to announce next Chhattisgarh chief minister tomorrow
The Congress is likely to announce the new chief minister of Chhattisgarh on Sunday after a legislature party meeting, party leaders said. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday and Saturday met four senior leaders of the state unit of the party — Bhupesh Baghel, TS Singh Deo, Tamradhwaj Sahu and Charan Das Mahant — and held discussions with them, a spokesperson said.Here are the HIGHLIGHTS:
5:00 pm IST
Final decision tomorrow: PL Punia
A meeting will be held at 12 pm tomorrow. We will then make the announcement (regarding Chhattisgarh CM). The Governor has given us time of 4:30 pm on December 17 for the oath-taking ceremony. So what’s the hurry: Chhattisgarh Congress in-charge PL Punia, reports ANI.
4:40 pm IST
Rahul tweet hints at end to impasse
No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you’re playing a solo game, you’ll always lose out to a team, tweets Rahul Gandhi as he posts picture with party’s CM candidates.
No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you’re playing a solo game, you’ll always lose out to a team.
– Reid Hoffman pic.twitter.com/TL5rPwiCDX
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 15, 2018
1:30 pm IST
Congress workers leaders gather outside Bhupesh Baghel’s residence
Congress workers and leaders have gathered outside Chhattisgarh PCC President Bhupesh Baghel’s residence in Raipur. Bhupesh Baghel and T S Singh Deo are being seen as the leading contenders for the post of Chhattisgarh chief minister.
Chhattisgarh: Congress workers and leaders also gather outside Chhattisgarh PCC President Bhupesh Baghel's residence in Raipur. Chief Minister to be announced later today. pic.twitter.com/Pc3Nn3cD9j
— ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2018
The name of the Chhattisgarh chief minister will be announced later today.
1:06 pm IST
Congress workers, leaders gather outside TS Singh Deo’s residence
Congress workers and leaders have gathered outside T S Singh Deo’s residence in Raipur. The name of the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister will be announced later today.
Chhattisgarh: Congress workers and leaders gather outside T S Singh Deo's residence in Raipur. Chief Minister to be announced later today. pic.twitter.com/liQNwrJlzk
— ANI (@ANI) December 15, 2018
12:36 pm IST
Sonia, Priyanka Gandhi also present in the meeting
According to news agency PTI, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were also present at the Congress chief’s residence.
12:34 pm IST
Third round of discussion before selecting next CM
This is the third round of discussion that the Congress chief is holding before selecting the chief minister for Chhattisgarh, where the party romped home to power after 15 years with two-third majority.
Congress’ central observer Mallikarjun Kharge and AICC in-charge for party affairs in Chhattisgarh P L Punia were also present at the meeting.
12:28 pm IST
Rahul holds discussion with top Congress leaders to select next Chhattisgarh CM
After selecting chief ministers of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Congress president Rahul Gandhi held hectic parleys with top party leaders Saturday to decide on the top post for Chhattisgarh.
According to news agency PTI, Rahul Gandhi met Chhattisgarh’s four potential chief minister candidates -- T S Singh Deo, Tamradhwaj Sahu, Bhupesh Baghel and Charan Das Mahant -- at his Tughlaq Lane residence and held discussions with them.
10:39 am IST
I will stay in state politics: Outgoing CM Raman Singh
Outgoing Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said Friday that he will not move to the Centre but remain in state politics. The Congress, in the recently concluded election, ended the BJP’s 15-year rule in the state.
“Mai yahi tha aur yahi rahunga (I was here and will stay here),” Singh said at a press conference.
“Now I will keep on coming to the BJP office in my new role. I will be meeting the press more often. Earlier as a CM, there were certain limitations for me but now I will come to party office and keep on meeting my workers,” a smiling Singh said.
Read: ‘Will stay here’: Raman Singh rules out moving to Centre
10:34 am IST
Deo, Baghel being seen as leading contenders for the top post
Bhupesh Baghel and T S Singh Deo are being seen as the leading contenders for the post of Chhattisgarh chief minister. Congress ended the BJP’s 15-year rule in Chhattisgarh in the recently concluded Assembly elections by winning 68 of the 90 seats.
10:28 am IST
Rahul Gandhi on Friday met four senior leaders of Chhattisgarh Congress
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday met four senior leaders of the state unit of the party -- Bhupesh Baghel, T S Singh Deo, Tamradhwaj Sahu and Charan Das Mahant -- in Delhi and held discussions with them, a state Congress spokesperson told PTI.
10:17 am IST
In Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel’s promotion as Congress state president proved to be a wise call
Bhupesh Baghel has been Chhattisgarh Congress president for the last five years and has taken former chief minister Raman Singh’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government head-on. Baghel belongs to the Kurmi community, which makes up around 14% of the state’s electorate.
Baghel was entrusted with the task of reviving the Congress’ fortunes in the state after the party suffered a third consecutive defeat in Assembly polls in 2013. At that time, infighting within the party was at its peak; a group led by former chief minister Ajit Jogi had issues with several rival leaders.
Read: Assembly elections 2018: Baghel’s promotion as Congress state president proved to be wise call
10:10 am IST
We have more than one eligible name: TS Singh Deo
“We have more than 1 eligible name that is why process is taking time, in any case final result came late on 11th so it has just been 4 days today. BJP which took more than 7-8 days to appoint its recent CMs should not comment on us,” said TS Singh Deo,Congress
10:00 am IST
Tamradhwaj Sahu front-runner for chief minister’s post
In Chhattisgarh, the Congress has a problem of plenty when it comes to chief ministerial candidates. But among all of them, one name stands out - that of Tamradhwaj Sahu.
