Senior Congress leader TS Singh Deo
The Congress will take a final call on the new chief minister of Chhattisgarh on Friday.
The party high command has summoned senior leaders of state unit including TS Singh Deo, Bhupesh Baghel and Charan Das Mahant to Delhi on Friday.
These leaders are likely to meet Congress President Rahul Gandhi after which a formal announcement about the new chief minister will be made.
T S Singh Deo and Bhupesh Patel are said to be among the top contenders for the CM post.
In Chhattisgarh, some scuffles took place outside the residence of state party chief Bhupesh Baghel (57), who is one of the contenders apart from leader of opposition in outgoing assembly T S Singh Deo (66), OBC leader Tamradhwaj Sahu (69) and party veteran Charan Das Mahant (64).
For Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, one view within the party is to go ahead with the veterans like Gehlot and Nath, who is 72, as safer options keeping the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in mind, while others are rooting for young turks like 47-year-old Scindia and Pilot to send across a message of change.
Mallikarjun Kharge, the central observer for the state, and the AICC state in-charge P L Punia briefed Gandhi late on Thursday night about views of the state’s party MLAs. But a decision is expected only on Friday after Gandhi meets the top contenders for the chief ministerial position.
Watch: Suspense continues on who will become CM of Chhattisgarh
Kharge, who went to Raipur on Wednesday, ascertained views of party MLAs individually and apprised Gandhi.
The Congress won 68 of the 90 seats in the Assembly elections, ousting BJP from power after 15 years.
(With agency inputs)
