RAIPUR, Dec 16:
Senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel was today named the new Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, ending the suspense after days of intense deliberations with top party leadership headed by president Rahul Gandhi.
Congress central observer Mallikarjun Kharge made the announcement after the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting here. .
Baghel will take oath as the the Chief Minister at 5 pm on Monday, Kharge told media persons in the state capital.
No other Minister will be taking oath on that day, he said.
The 57-year-old OBC leader, who steered the party to a stupendous victory with a two-thirds majority in Chhattisgarh pipped party colleagues T S Singh Deo, Tamradhwaj Sahu and Charan Das Mahant to the top post, as Congress chief Gandhi decided on his candidature to lead the State Government.
“It was a tough decision because all the four leaders worked equally for the party and they all are equal,” Kharge said.
After having discussions with the four aspirants, Gandhi decided to chose Baghel as the Chief Minister and “we conveyed the message to all the legislators today in the CLP meeting during which they all accepted it and unanimously elected Baghel as the CLP leader,” Kharge said.
“There are several challenges before us as we have come to power after 15 years in the state. We will fulfil our poll promises and we are confident that Baghel will discharge his responsibilities well,” he said. (PTI)
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