Senior Congress leader and Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister T.S. Singh Deo on December 1 said that the party’s high command will take a final call on leadership if it returns to power as speculations around a “2.5-year [power-sharing] formula” were not good.
Mr. Singh Deo’s comment come on the backdrop of most exit polls predicting a slender lead for the ruling party, which is eyeing an encore. The “2.5-year formula” refers to a purported arrangement under which Mr. Singh Deo will replace Mr. Bhupesh Baghel as Chief Minister after two and a half years.
“This [speculations around the power-sharing agreement] also puts strain on relationships, people are not able to respond to it. The issue comes up again and again in the media and questions are raised. When will the two-and-a-half-year period come to an end? When will this happen? Is it happening or not? When will the oath-taking ceremony be held? That does not create a good environment. So we have decided among ourselves that we leave it to the high command,” he told news agency ANI in Delhi in response to a question on the next CM if Congress wins.
