The Congress on Sunday announced the name of Bhupesh Baghel as the new chief minister of Chhattisgarh, where the party recently annihilated the ruling BJP by a winning two-third majority in the state assembly.
Baghel, a relatively unknown name at the national level, was credited for causing the revival for a party, which had lost its entire state leadership in a Naxal attack in 2013. Announcing the decision, a tweet by the Congress said, “Celebrations are in order in Chhattisgarh as @Bhupesh_Baghel is appointed CM. We wish him the best as he forms a govt. of equality, transparency & integrity starting off with farm loan waiver for farmers as we promised.”
Celebrations are in order in Chhattisgarh as @Bhupesh_Baghel is appointed CM. We wish him the best as he forms a govt. of equality, transparency & integrity starting off with farm loan waiver for farmers as we promised. pic.twitter.com/7OqGcPi2eh
— Congress (@INCIndia) December 16, 2018
This followed a tweet by Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday, when he posted a photo of himself with all stakeholders with a caption that read, “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”
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 pic.twitter.com/TL5rPwiCDX
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) December 15, 2018
Gandhi’s tweet was an indication that he had managed to resolve the differences over who will lead the state for the next five years. While Bhupesh Baghel was widely expected to be named the next chief minister. However, TS Singh Deo, who was the leader of the opposition in the last assembly and party’s lone MP from Chhattisgarh, Tamradhwaj Sahu too had reportedly staked their claims for the top job in the state.
Reacting to his appointment, Baghel tweeted, “Grateful to Rahul Gandhi. First he tasked me with securing majority for the party in the elections, now he has handed me the responsibility to build a new Chhattisgarh. I would like to assure the great people of Chhattisgarh that the government led by the Congress will fulfill the expectations and aspirations of common people.”
कांग्रेस अध्यक्ष @RahulGandhi जी का आभार। उन्होंने मुझे पहले बहुमत लाने की जिम्मेदारी दी और अब नवा छत्तीसगढ़ गढ़ने का दायित्व सौंपा है। छत्तीसगढ़ की महान जनता को मैं विश्वास दिलाता हूं कि कांग्रेस की सरकार जन आकांक्षाओं, आशाओं व अभिलाषाओं को पूरी करने वाली सरकार होगी।
जय जोहार।
— Bhupesh Baghel (@Bhupesh_Baghel) December 16, 2018
In the just-concluded elections, the Congress had won 68 out of 90 seats, while the BJP’s tally was reduced to just 15.