Chhattisgarh: Bhupesh Baghel's government completed two-and-a-half years in office in June (File)
Weeks after managing a fragile truce in Punjab, the Congress is firefighting in Chhattisgarh, with Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel's minister TS Singh Deo laying claim to the top post on the basis of rotational chief ministership. In a three-hour meeting with Rahul Gandhi today, in which his challenger was also present, Bhupesh Baghel reportedly failed to get an all-clear on keeping the top job.
Mr Baghel, said to be on notice, has said he will abide by the party's decision.
"Bhupesh Baghel has agreed to whatever decision the high command takes. He says he will be the Chief Minister as long as they wish," Congress's Chhattisgarh in-charge PL Punia told NDTV after the meeting.
He added that "both" Mr Baghel and Mr Deo have agreed to the leadership's decision.
"At present Baghel is the Chief Minister," Mr Punia said.
Mr Deo, asked by reporters on his claim to chief ministership, said: "On the leadership issue we have agreed to the decision of the high command."
Mr Baghel's government completed two-and-a-half years in office in June. That is when Mr Deo and his supporters started pressing for change, insisting that rotational chief ministership was the deal when the party took power in December 2018.
Mr Deo claims he was promised he would take over as Chief Minister after Mr Baghel's half-term.
Sources close to Mr Deo say he will not settle for anything less. If he's not made Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, he will quit the government and maybe even the Congress, said sources. Mr Deo "won't join the BJP" but can't work under Mr Baghel anymore, they added.
"The situation is at a breaking point," sources close to Mr Deo told NDTV.
After winning the Chhattisgarh election in 2018, the Congress faced tough negotiations with chief ministerial contenders including Mr Deo and Tamradhwaj Sahu.
Finally, both were taken on as ministers when Mr Baghel took charge. Rahul Gandhi had tweeted a photo with the leaders, in a show of unity, with the message: "No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you're playing a solo game, you'll always lose out to a team. - Reid Hoffman."
But that picture no longer reflects the ground realities, like the other photos tweeted by Mr Gandhi at the time - with Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia (Madhya Pradesh) and with Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot (Rajasthan).
Reports, never confirmed, suggested the Chhattisgarh challengers had relented only when the Congress agreed to the formula of power-sharing between Mr Baghel and Mr Deo.
However, every time Mr Baghel has been asked about such a formula, he has said he will readily step down if the party leadership asks him to.