After a Successful and Faceless Run, Congress Scrambles to Name a Chief Minister in Chhattisgarh

Raipur: After the Congress chief Rahul Gandhi announced the chief minister designates for Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, suspense continues over the CM candidate for Chhattisgarh.

However, Rahul Gandhi on Friday had one-on-one meetings with all the four probable candidates-- Chhattisgarh state head Bhupesh Baghel, senior leader TS Singh Deo, MPs Charan Das Mahant and Tamrdhwaj Sahu. The decision is expected to be made public ahead of Congress Legislature Party scheduled in Raipur on Saturday.

The CM contenders would stay back in New Delhi on Friday night.

Although, the Congress announced the next chief ministers in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan on late Thursday night and Friday evening, respectively, the party is yet to take a call for Chhattisgarh. The Congress here defeated the BJP, winning 68 seats in 90-member assembly, ending a 15-year rule of the saffron party.

Frontrunner in the race, PCC chief Bhupesh Baghel before leaving for New Delhi early in the day tweeted, “I was entrusted with the responsibility of securing majority by high command and whatever role I am offered, I would undertake it with honesty. I am leaving with a smile and would return in same manner.”

Here is a look at the contenders

Bhupesh Baghel: Known to be an aggressive politician, Baghel was on the forefront in the fight against the BJP in Chhattisgarh. He has been booked under several cases and was also jailed in sleaze CD case involving a BJP minister in September. Appointed PCC head in 2014, Baghel is a five time MLA from Patan.

TS Singh Deo: A scion of Sarguja princely state, Tribhuvaneshwar Saran Singh Deo is an MLA from Ambikapur. His mother Devendra Kumari was a minister in undivided Madhya Pradesh. Deo, who started his career in 1983, is known as a gentle politician.

Charan Das Mahant: Mahant was the lone MP from Chhattisgarh during Modi wave in 2014 and represents Korba. He indulges in folk art through drama, dance and songs and holds a PhD degree. He was also a union minister in Manmohan Singh government and has been the PCC president. He was also Home minister of undivided MP in Digvijaya Singh government.

Tamradhwaj Sahu: Brought in Assembly polls as prominent OBC face of Congress, Sahu represents Durg Lok Sabha seat and is credited with the win against senior BJP leader Saroj Pandey in 2014. He was a minister in Ajit Jogi government in the past.