Chhattisgarh: 'Never Spoke About Rotational CM Post,' Says Newly-Appointed Deputy CM TS Singh Deo

Newly appointed Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo has dismissed reports of an "agreement" regarding the rotation of the chief ministerial post. The appointment of Singh Deo as deputy CM is seen as an effort by the Congress to address internal conflicts and present a united front against the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming Assembly elections

Outlook Web Desk

Updated on: 29 June 2023 7:15 am

Chhattisgarh Deputy CM TS Singh Deo paid a courtesy call to CM Bhupesh Baghel

Newly appointed Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo rubbished reports of an "agreement" over rotation of the chief ministerial post and claimed it was a buzz created by the media.

Reports had claimed that as per an "understanding" reached in 2018, Singh Deo was supposed to take over after Baghel completed half of his term. Both the leaders have reportedly been at loggerheads since the party came to power in the state in 2018.

A day after the Congress's move to appoint TS Singh Deo as the deputy chief minister of Chhattisgarh, the latter expressed his gratitude to the party for the announcement of his elevation and said "der aaye durust aaye" (better late than never). "We have to go ahead by taking everyone together and try to complete the work in the limited time we have (until the State election)...," he said.

#WATCH | Newly appointed Chhattisgarh Deputy CM TS Singh Deo says, "First of all, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for this responsibility given to me by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge...We have to go ahead by taking everyone together and try to complete the… pic.twitter.com/R9oQK0kty0
— ANI (@ANI) June 28, 2023

Asked about the two-and-half years of power-sharing "agreement" between him and Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Singh Deo said, “I never discussed any 2.5 year agreement. It was a buzz in the media. However, I always got positive support from the media."

On the upcoming state election, Singh Deo said, "The Government has worked, we have to work together. The last results were unprecedented, I had never fathomed that we will get 68 seats. But voters of Chhattisgarh gave us this opportunity. We will go to them once again to seek their support and confidence..."

A Congress statement on Wednesday said party president Mallikarjun Kharge approved the proposal for the appointment of Singh Deo as the deputy chief minister in Chhattisgarh. Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh are slated for later this year.

The Congress's move to appoint Singh Deo, locked in a turf war with CM Baghel for months, as deputy CM appears to be an attempt to stem infighting in the state unit and prepare it for the polls.

Baghel faces a formidable challenge from the Opposition BJP in the crucial Assembly elections. In the interest of putting up a united face, he hailed Singh Deo's appointment after the announcement.