Rahul meets Baghel, Singh Deo in bid to resolve differences in Chhattisgarh

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday met Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and state Health Minister T S Singh Deo in an effort to resolve the power tussle between the two senior leaders in the state.

AICC in-charge for Chhattisgarh P L Punia and AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal were also present during the meeting convened by Rahul Gandhi at his residence.

Sources said the two Chhattisgarh leaders had separate meetings with the former Congress president. The meetings lasted almost three hours.

Rahul Gandhi heard the two leaders patiently in his attempt to iron out differences in the state leadership, the sources said, adding that some more meetings with the senior party leadership are likely in the coming days.

Punia told reporters later that issues of development in the state were discussed during their meeting. He also denied that the leadership issue was discussed.

Singh Deo and Baghel have been at loggerheads, with the former claiming that the leadership at the time of the election victory in 2018 had proposed a rotation of the chief minister’s post after 2.5 years.

Both have said they would abide by the decision of the party high command.

“Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are our leaders and we would abide with whatever they say,”Singh Deo told reporters before the meeting.

Baghel has also said that whatever decision the leadership takes will be followed.

While the two have met Rahul Gandhi earlier on the issue, Baghel has also met Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

The Congress has been facing similar troubles in Punjab and Rajasthan, with senior leaders facing off on a range of issues.