Former Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh on Thursday took a dig at the Congress, saying that the party had lost faith in its Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel due to his "corrupt governance". He referred to the Congress's decision to fight the upcoming Chhattisgarh Assembly election under collective leadership.
Newly-appointed Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister TS Singh Deo said on Wednesday the Congress will fight the upcoming state assembly election under the collective leadership of the incumbent CM Bhupesh Baghel and the party chief as per the party's longstanding tradition. The decision to appoint Deo as the deputy CM was reached just a few months ahead of state Assembly elections due this year-end, but Deo said the responsibility given even for a day is crucial. "Our priority will be to work together for the development of the state. I will fulfill the responsibilities given to me," he said.
Referring to this, BJP leader Raman Singh said: "Yesterday a big decision was taken by Congress, in which Bhupesh Baghel's face was removed from the Chief Ministerial post. It was announced that the Congress would contest the elections with collective leadership." "The slogan 'Bhupesh pe bharosa hai [We have faith in Bhupesh]' has now changed to 'Bhupesh hai toh bhrashtachar hai [Bhupesh makes corruption possible]'. Now that they are talking about collective leadership, it is certain that the Congress Central leadership has lost faith in Bhupesh Baghel," he added.
The AAP has also leveled allegations of corruption against the Congress and has demanded CM Baghel's resignation. The AAP accused the Congress government in Chhattisgarh of turning the state into a hub of corruption. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak had even called for CM Bhupesh Baghel's arrest.
The election to the 90-seat Chhattisgarh Assembly is likely to be held in November this year. At present Congress has 71 members in the Chhattisgarh Assembly. The Opposition comprises the BJP with 14 MLAs, the Janta Congress with 3, and the BSP with 2.