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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

3 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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Amit Shah praises Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, says Nation above post

Amit Shah hailed Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation as Union Education Minister, saying BJP places the nation and students above any position while highlighting the government’s commitment to examination reforms.

Published

3 days ago

on

July 26, 2026

By

Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday praised Dharmendra Pradhan’s decision to step down as Union Education Minister, saying the move reflected the Bharatiya Janata Party’s commitment to placing the nation and students above any political position.

In a post on X, Shah said that for BJP workers, the country, its youth and students are more important than any office. He described Pradhan’s resignation as an example of the party’s guiding principle of prioritising national interest over personal ambition.

Shah highlights government’s focus on exam reforms

Amit Shah said the Narendra Modi-led government respects the sentiments of students and remains committed to strengthening the examination system following concerns over alleged paper leaks.

He said the Centre has introduced strict measures to ensure severe punishment for those involved in examination paper leaks and expressed confidence that these steps would deliver justice to students who cleared the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

Praises Pradhan’s work as Education Minister

Recalling Dharmendra Pradhan’s tenure, Shah highlighted several initiatives undertaken during his time in the Education Ministry. He credited Pradhan with helping implement the National Education Policy (NEP), expanding PM SHRI schools, promoting digital education, strengthening skill development and improving coordination between industry and academic institutions.

Shah also said Pradhan worked towards making examinations more inclusive and student-centric, adding that his tenure reflected his commitment to the vision of a developed India.

Resignation follows NEET controversy

Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation comes amid nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in the NEET examination and growing demands for accountability.

The resignation has triggered political reactions across party lines. While opposition parties have described the development as a result of sustained student protests, BJP leaders have projected it as an example of accountability and commitment to national interest.

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Centre ready for NEET debate in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi’s paper leak claims to be investigated: JP Nadda

Union Health Minister JP Nadda said the government is prepared for a detailed Parliament debate on the NEET paper leak issue and will investigate Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of multiple paper leaks over the last decade.

Published

6 days ago

on

July 22, 2026

By

JP-Nadda

The Centre has reiterated its willingness to hold a detailed discussion on the NEET paper leak issue in Parliament, with Union Health Minister JP Nadda saying the government is prepared for a debate of any duration. He also said Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of around 152 examination paper leaks over the past 10 years would be investigated.

Government open to debate of any duration

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, JP Nadda said the government has consistently supported a discussion on the paper leak issue in Parliament. He stated that the Opposition could decide the duration of the debate through the Business Advisory Committee, whether it is a short discussion or one extending to 12 or even 18 hours.

Nadda, who is also the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha, said the government remains fully prepared for a comprehensive discussion and urged the Opposition not to shift its position on the issue.

Rahul Gandhi’s paper leak allegations to be examined

Responding to Rahul Gandhi’s recent presentation, Nadda said the Congress leader referred to nearly 150 paper leak incidents over the last decade. He described those claims as a matter that requires investigation and said the government would examine the allegations before presenting the facts to the public.

According to Nadda, a responsible government is committed to verifying such claims and ensuring that the truth is established through due investigation.

Calls for a united approach on NEET issue

Highlighting the significance of the matter, Nadda said the future of students should remain the top priority for both the government and the Opposition. He appealed to political parties to work together in finding a long-term solution to prevent examination irregularities.

He added that safeguarding the interests of students is a shared responsibility and called for constructive cooperation instead of political differences.

Nadda on meeting with CJP representatives

The Union Minister also spoke about his recent interaction with representatives of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP). He said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere, during which the government listened to their concerns and asked them to submit their suggestions in writing.

Nadda said the government remains open to further discussions whenever required and clarified that no meeting with the group was held on Wednesday.

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Opposition demands Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation before NEET discussion in Parliament

The Opposition has demanded Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation before any discussion on the NEET paper leak in Parliament, while the Centre says it is fully prepared for a debate.

Published

6 days ago

on

July 22, 2026

By

The political deadlock over the NEET paper leak issue continued in Parliament on Wednesday, with Opposition parties demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan before any discussion takes place. The Centre, however, maintained that it is fully prepared to debate the matter during the ongoing Monsoon Session.

Leading the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said there could be no fair discussion on the NEET issue unless Dharmendra Pradhan resigned from his post.

Centre rejects Opposition’s condition

Responding to the Opposition’s demand, Leader of the House JP Nadda said the government was not avoiding a discussion and remained open to debating all issues, including the alleged NEET paper leak.

He said the government had already made its position clear and described it as transparent, adding that it was willing to discuss every matter raised by the Opposition.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also reiterated that the Centre had been ready for discussions since the beginning of the Monsoon Session. He said the government had consistently conveyed its willingness to debate the NEET issue and other important matters.

Rijiju added that if the Opposition was looking for reasons to avoid a discussion, it would not be appropriate. According to him, the procedure and timing of the debate would be decided after consultations among all parties under the Chair’s guidance.

Opposition maintains resignation demand

The government also informed the House that its willingness to discuss the issue had been communicated to Congress leaders and representatives of other political parties.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav echoed the Opposition’s stand, saying students were seeking the resignation of the Education Minister before any discussion. He asserted that the resignation should come first, followed by parliamentary debate on the issue.

Akhilesh Yadav also joined Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition MPs during a march towards the Prime Minister’s residence in New Delhi on Tuesday as part of the protest over the NEET controversy.

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