Bhupesh Baghel is positioning himself to be the next President of the Congress Party say highly placed sources in the party.
This surprise development is the result of Baghel playing a long-term hand to achieve his objective.
Sources disclosed that the former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh who an OBC leader (Kurmi to be precise) is no longer in the Priyanka Gandhi Vadra camp but has repositioned himself as a K. C. Venugopal camp wallah.
It is no secret that Venugopal is today the most powerful person in the Congress Party and Baghel believes that the way to the Congress Presidentship goes via K.C. Venugopal.
Baghel oversees Punjab where he reportedly has completely surrendered to Venugopal and is not taking a stand on a number of issues.
Sources disclosed, a lobby of senior leaders in Punjab are under the protection of Venugopal and this includes Randhawa, Raja Warring, Pratap Singh Bajwa and others who appears to be completely playing into the hands of the Aam Admi Party (AAP) and the BJP to the extent that the Congress is on a complete downslide in the state.
Baghel as the state in charge has refused to interfere in Punjab affairs going only by the dictation given by Venugopal.
That is not all.
Almost all the General Secretaries and state in charges are appointees of Venugopal or report to him and take instructions from him.
This includes Jairam Ramesh, Deepa Das Munshi, Avinash Pande, Harish Chaudhary, Devender Yadav and many others.
The popular perception is that if one has to survive it can only be with the blessings of Venugopal who is the eyes ears and whatever of Rahul Gandhi.
A senior leader said that if a Priyanka loyalist like Bhupesh Baghel can switch camps for hardcore personal ambitions it speaks volumes for the kind of power play currently being manifested in the corridors of the AICC.
Interestingly, Avinash Pande was appointed as AICC general in charge of Uttar Pradesh by Priyanka Gandhi but somewhere along the way he has shifted camps and now reports to K C Venugopal. With just a year and a half left for the Uttar Pradesh elections the party apparatus in the state is in shambles.
The Rajasthan in charge Randhawa who was on the verge of being sacked was saved by Venugopal once he shifted to his camp. Randhawa is part of the cartel which reports to Venugopal.
Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot is desperately trying to make a comeback through Venugopal but after his rebellion against the Gandhis and the then Congress President Sonia Gandhi, even Venugopal is finding it difficult to market Gehlot to Rahul Gandhi.
The great wonder of the Congress Party’s Ambika Soni is also backing Gehlot but that is also not working even though she has easy access to Sonia Gandhi.
For some in the AICC it’s a compulsion to toe the Venugopal command in a bid to survive and for others it’s a way to move ahead and achieve their goals and aspirations.
A senior leader said that if a Priyanka loyalist like Bhupesh Baghel can switch camps for hardcore personal ambitions it speaks volumes for the kind of power play currently being manifested in the corridors of the AICC.
Baghel’s background as an OBC, a former Chief Minister, and a suitable candidate aligns with Rahul’s current criteria for leadership promotion.
And as far as the cases against him are concerned and his summons by the Enforcement Directorate are concerned, it really does not matter anymore since the Gandhis also have been summoned and questioned by the ED.
It is a level playing field said a senior leader!!!
Renu Mittal
Renu Mittal is a veteran Journalist of India. She is reporting on the Congress Party affairs since 1983.