Chhattisgarh CM meets Rahul Gandhi amid speculations of removal

New Delhi, Aug 27 (UNI) Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday, amid speculations that he could be replaced as the chief minister.

State health minister TS Singh Deo, who is also in the national capital since the last meeting on August 24, has staked claim to the top post in the state.

Baghel met Rahul Gandhi for the second time in a week of Friday. Chhattisgarh in-charge PL Punia and KC Venugopal were also present. Party General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi was also present in the meeting.
Punia earlier today said: “There is an issue of leadership, which we are addressing”.

According to sources, several MLAs from Chhattisgarh are also in Delhi as a show of strength in support of Baghel.  On Friday morning, Baghel had said he was called by Venugopal for the meeting.

“I have been called to meet Rahul Gandhi, so I am headed to Delhi. I have no clue of the reason for it, rest is media speculation,” Baghel said on Friday morning.

He had also defended the MLAs who came to Delhi in his support, and dismissed reports of him being replaced as “speculation”.

Baghel and Deo met Rahul Gandhi on August 24, after which Chhattisgarh incharge of the party PL Punia had said there were no discussions on changing the chief minister in Chhattisgarh.
The Congress had swept the Chhattisgarh polls in December 2018, winning 70 of 90 seats.