Raipur: CM Bhupesh Baghel who was on a visit to Delhi on Saturday evening returned to Raipur on Monday. CM Baghel and state health minister TS Singh had flown to Delhi to convene with the High Command in order to settle internal rifts in the party. However, no such meeting took place, Baghel said responding to the reporter’s questions about the meeting.

Baghel who has been appointed as the Congress’ senior observer for the upcoming Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh convened with the Rajya Sabha members Rajiv Shukla, Sachin Pilot and Pratap Singh Bajwa to chart out the election strategy. As per sources, Baghel is scheduled to depart to Shimla after the conclusion of the monsoon session. “A meeting was held with the party leaders from Himachal Pradesh, including state Congress chief and Congress legislature party (CLP) leader and those who have been assigned responsibilities (for polls). In view of the upcoming polls (in Himachal), serious discussion was held on how the organisation would go among voters and with which issues, said Baghel to the reporters at the airport.

Singh Deo who flew to Delhi from Bhopal also returned. Sources state that Singh Deo would not return to the state until the monsoon session terminated.

Singh Deo relinquished his post as the Panchayat and Rural Minister, retaining others on July 16th. In his four-page letter, Singh Deo claimed that he was unable to fulfil the targets set for rural development as per the Jan Ghoshna Patra, given the ‘current scenario’.