Congress to announce Chhattisgarh CM today

RAIPUR/NEW DELHI: Amid reports of reluctance among chief ministerial aspirants in Chhattisgarh to give up their claims, Congress president picturewith four senior leaders from the state to suggest that a solution would be arrived at like in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Congress will announce its CM pick in a meeting of the legislature party in Raipur on Sunday, a day after hectic discussions with the four seniors - state president Bhupesh Baghel, TS Singhdeo, Tamradhwaj Sahu and Charan Das Mahant - and the AICC managers. The final race appeared to have state president Bhupesh Baghel as front-runner with Singhdeo and Sahu close. Rahul's picture with the state veterans sought to convey that a united unit swept aside the Raman Singh-led BJP in Chhattisgarh. "No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you're playing a solo game, you'll always lose out to a team," the photo tweet said. The process to pick the CM in Chhattisgarh was bound to pose a serious challenge as the field comprised multiple leaders with either experience or social profile or both. Baghel has steered the organisation for five years besides hailing from the backward community while Singhdeo is a known genial face with royal background and has the financial muscle too. Sahu is lesser known among the aspirants but has developed proximity to Rahul Gandhi as the head of AICC's OBC cell. Mahant remains a distant contender though he hails from the backward community and has the seniority.While suspense continued over the future CM till late Saturday evening, the day was rife with reports that Sahu, who is Lok Sabha MP from Durg, had emerged the frontrunner in the final lap.