Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel, the CMs of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, struck assertive notes on Saturday, relieved that the Congress leadership, singed by the turmoil in its Punjab unit, will not attempt similar interventions in other party-governed states.
Gehlot said he would not only complete his full five-year-term but would return as the head of the next Congress government after the 2023 polls. The assertion appeared to be aimed as much against BJP as against factional rivals who had renewed their efforts to get the leadership to replace Gehlot with Sachin Pilot, his principal challenger.
Baghel, who earlier felt troubled amid indications that the Gandhi siblings continue to be indulgent of health minister T S Singhdeo’s reminder that it was time the incumbent vacated the helm for him as part of the promised rotational CM scheme, ruled out a Punjab rerun in Chhattisgarh after being appointed as the election in-charge for UP.