Raipur: The recent induction of former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel in the AICC as general secretary in charge of Punjab affairs has triggered speculations that the party leadership may overhaul Congress in Chhattisgarh by appointing veteran leader T S Singh Deo as its chief. Mr Baghel’s appointment in the AICC is seen by a strong section of the party here as a move to shunt him out of state politics to pave the way for Mr Deo to take leadership of Congress in Chhattisgarh by replacing the incumbent PCC chief Deepak Baij. “The AICC leadership may be toying with the idea of overhauling Congress in Chhattisgarh. The debacle of Congress in the civic body polls in the state may hasten the process of recasting the party in Chhattisgarh. That may be the reason for inducting Mr Baghel in the AICC to keep him away from state politics to pave way for Mr Deo to take the mantle of party in the state”, a senior Congress functionary told this newspaper, requesting not to be quoted. The political rivalry between Mr Baghel and Mr Deo was the hallmark of the previous Congress government in the state. The rivalry had reached the flash point in 2021 when Mr Deo had staked his claim for the chief minister’s post during the previous Bhupesh Baghel government by reminding the Central leadership of the party then of the purported formula of rotational chief minister. He was however pacified with the post of deputy chief minister in the previous Baghel government. Sources said that the Central leadership of the party is seriously contemplating to change the leadership of Congress in Chhattisgarh to refurbish the party by appointing Mr Deo as PCC chief. Amid speculations over change of leadership of the party in the state, Mr Deo said, “I am ready to take up whatever responsibility the party gives to me”.
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