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In Chhattisgarh, a patient TS Singhdeo waits for his turn to be chief minister

In the given circumstances of Congress and the likelihood of it retaining voter confidence, he still remains the most capable person in Congress to hold that portfolio.

Published

2 years ago

on

By Neeraj Mishra

Sarguja has had one family rule for last several hundred years and TS Singhdeo is believed to be some 1025th in an unbroken line. One of the reasons could be that none of the empires from Ashoka and Chandragupta to the Mughals were really interested in conquering Ambikapur and surrounding areas which was mostly forest land. And even though the British recognised the Sarguja family as the only “Maharajas” in present day Chhattisgarh, it was only a protectorate state under the Raj, having accepted British suzerainty.

Then why would TS Singhdeo seek to become a chief minister when his entire family history is different ? His father MS Singhdeo, an IAS officer, was the chief secretary of MP under Arjun Singh and even though the latter referred to him as Maharaj, it was more out of Thakur pride and traditions. TS Baba as he is known had remained a small town, municipal-level leader for most of his life till by quirk of fate Ambikapur became a separate general assembly constituency in 2008 after a re-organisation of seats. He won his first Assembly elections.

In his first term as MLA, he learnt and then became the Leader of Opposition in 2013 in only his second term when fate intervened on his behalf again. The Congress had lost its entire senior leadership in the Naxalite attack in Jheeram, Bastar. By the time, the third win in 2018 happened he had thrown his gauntlet along with Bhupesh Baghel, a caste upstart from Durg district who was the PCC chief. They had run the election campaign together as Jai and Viru. Singhdeo says he was promised half the term as CM by Rahul Gandhi, the then Congress president. That didn’t happen because Baghel was too smart and had slowly entrenched himself in Priyanka Gandhi’s camp.

Now again, Singhdeo sits alone in his ministerial bungalow in Raipur, surrounded mostly by supplicants and acolytes giving out interviews to TV channels claiming it is his deepest desire to become CM. And if that does not happen, he will not contest another election. Strangely, there are not many MLAs or likely winners/candidates visiting him post polling day on November 17th. There could be several reasons but the prime one seems to be that Baghel is still in charge and leading the race and TS Baba’s own persona which remains regal.

So TS Baba wants to be CM but is he capable? Yes. In the given circumstances of Congress and the likelihood of it retaining voter confidence, he still remains the most capable person in Congress to hold that portfolio. His family background, his education, his hold over the bureaucracy and several other things point to his obvious capabilities to claim that office. He also has a legitimate claim within the party since the Gandhis have not kept their promise of giving him a shot at the top office.

So will he become the next CM in case of a Congress victory? That is the question and debate in every political gossip circle in the capital and beyond. It is unlikely that Baghel will let go of his position so easily. He didn’t even do so when Rahul asked him to after 2.5 years in the post. In fact, he has built an image of Congress’ boldest OBC face and a kisan leader in his time in office. So that’s the biggest and perhaps the only hurdle in Singhdeo’s path.

What else? There are several other minor hiccups. The Congress may want to replace Baghel with another OBC leader, then old Sahu warhorse Tamradhwaj remains the best bet. If Congress opts for a tribal face, then Deepak Baij or Markam may lay claim.

What can happen? If Congress wins with a thin majority like 50 then that may be Singhdeo’s best chance. A clear and major victory like 55 plus seats would mean Baghel has prevailed with his image and pro-farmer agenda.

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Vijay meets Tamil Nadu Governor again as TVK pushes to prove majority

TVK chief Vijay held another meeting with Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar as the party intensified efforts to secure majority support after emerging as the single-largest party in the Assembly elections.

Published

14 hours ago

on

May 7, 2026

By

Actor vijay

Actor-turned-politician Vijay met Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar again on Thursday as his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), continued efforts to prove it has enough support to form the next government in the state.

TVK emerged as the single-largest party in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly after winning 108 seats, but it remains short of the majority mark of 118.

The Congress has extended support to TVK, adding five MLAs to Vijay’s side. However, the alliance still needs additional backing from other parties or independents to comfortably cross the halfway mark.

According to reports, the Governor has not yet been fully convinced that TVK currently has the required numbers to form a stable government. This has delayed clarity over the swearing-in ceremony and the formal invitation to form the government.

Political activity intensified after reports emerged that some AIADMK legislators were moved to a resort in Puducherry amid speculation over possible support to TVK. AIADMK leaders, however, publicly denied any internal crisis.

TVK sources have expressed confidence that the party will be able to demonstrate majority support during discussions with the Governor.

The Tamil Nadu election results marked a major political shift in the state, with TVK breaking the long-standing dominance of the DMK and AIADMK in its first Assembly election contest.

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Congress, BJP attack Bhagwant Mann over remarks on Punjab blasts

Congress and BJP have jointly criticised Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann after he linked recent blasts near defence sites to political motives, triggering a controversy.

Published

1 day ago

on

May 6, 2026

By

Bhagwant Mann

A political row has erupted in Punjab after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann linked recent blast incidents to political motives, drawing sharp criticism from both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The controversy follows two low-intensity explosions reported within a short span of time — one near the Border Security Force (BSF) headquarters in Jalandhar and another close to an army cantonment area in Amritsar. The incidents raised concerns over security, particularly given the sensitive nature of the locations.

In response, Mann suggested that the blasts could be part of a larger political strategy. His remarks triggered a strong backlash, with opposition parties accusing him of politicising a serious security issue.

Leaders from the Congress criticised the Chief Minister’s statement, calling it inappropriate and alleging that such comments undermine the gravity of the situation. They stressed that matters related to national security should be handled with caution and responsibility.

The BJP also joined the criticism, questioning the basis of Mann’s claims and urging the state government to focus on investigation and law enforcement instead of making political allegations.

The developments have led to an unusual moment where both Congress and BJP appear aligned in their criticism of the Aam Aadmi Party-led government in the state.

Meanwhile, the blasts themselves have intensified concerns over safety in border regions, with authorities continuing their investigation into the incidents. No casualties were reported, but the proximity to defence establishments has made the issue particularly sensitive.

The episode has further escalated political tensions in the state, with security and accountability emerging as key points of debate.

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Himanta Biswa Sarma resigns as Assam chief minister, oath ceremony likely after May 11

Himanta Biswa Sarma resigns as Assam Chief Minister after BJP-led NDA’s victory. He will continue as caretaker CM until the new government is sworn in after May 11.

Published

1 day ago

on

May 6, 2026

By

Himanta sharma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma resigned from his post on Wednesday, paving the way for the formation of a new government after the BJP-led NDA secured a decisive victory in the 2026 Assembly elections.

Sarma submitted his resignation to Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya at Lok Bhawan in Guwahati. The Governor accepted the resignation and asked him to continue as the caretaker Chief Minister until the new government takes charge.

The resignation comes after the NDA’s strong electoral performance, where the alliance won a clear majority in the 126-member Assembly, ensuring its return to power for another term.

Oath ceremony expected after May 11

Speaking to reporters after submitting his resignation, Sarma said the swearing-in ceremony for the new government is likely to be held after May 11.

He indicated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited to attend the ceremony but is unavailable until May 11, which has influenced the tentative schedule.

Decision on next chief minister soon

Sources suggest that central observers, including senior BJP leaders, are expected to arrive shortly to oversee the selection of the legislature party leader. The newly elected MLAs will then decide on the next Chief Minister.

Despite the formal resignation, party sources indicate that Sarma is likely to continue in the role for another term, given the BJP’s strong mandate in the state.

The move marks the beginning of the government formation process in Assam following the election results declared earlier this week.

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