In Chhattisgarh's political landscape marked by twists and turns, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel stands out as the architect of Congress' resurgence in Chhattisgarh after the lengthy exile of 15 years in the opposition wilderness between 2003 and 2018.
The seasoned politician, hailing from Patan constituency, has etched his name in the state's political history spearheading the party's return to power, and thoroughly dominating Chhattisgarh politics in the subsequent five years.
What has been remarkable about Baghel has been his success in setting the agenda in Chhattisgarh politics and forcing rivals to play on the pitch that he sets out.
A prime example of the feat is his management of BJP’s hardline Hindutva rhetoric, countering it with his own brand of regionalism. One may also count in how he forced the BJP to talk about paddy and elevate their price quote for paddy procurement despite opposing it for the past five years.
Baghel’s Steady Rise
Baghel's journey from his early days in the Indian Youth Congress to his current tenure as Chief Minister has marked him out in the Congress as a rare leader with political acumen and organisational ability. There is no parallel to Baghel’s rise through the Congress ranks in the Hindi heartland in recent years. It is all the more remarkable given that he cannot boast of big antecedents either.
His initial political foray saw him elected as an MLA from the Patan constituency in Madhya Pradesh in 1993, a feat he repeated in 1998. Rather than his early electoral success, it was his sharp management skills that enabled him to position himself as the lynchpin of the Congress machinery in Chhattisgarh, which subsequently helped his influence extend beyond the legislative chambers.
He served as a Minister (independent charge) in the Digvijaya Singh government in 1998 and held a ministerial role in the Ajit Jogi ministry. However, a setback in 2008 – losing to nephew Vijay Baghel from Patan constituency, his home turf, and an unsuccessful bid in the Lok Sabha elections the following year, was a period of immense political adversity.
Baghel's resilience shone through in 2013 when he triumphed over Vijay, reclaiming his political stronghold. Then came his rise to the post of state Congress president after the then top leadership of the party was wiped out in the 2013 Darbha Valley massacre. What followed was a slow turnaround for the Congress as Baghel showcased his ability to rally the party and appeal to the masses.
A Key Election For Baghel
Congress has wisely bet on Baghel's leadership for five years despite the contentions raised by TS Singhdeo for a shot at the CM’s post. In some crucial aspects of governance like policy selection, its propagation, and management of the state bureaucracy he has fared well. At the political end, his skills in ticket distribution, management of estranged leaders, keeping the morale of party workers high, and dominating the narrative among the electorate came into plain sight during the 2018 elections and the five years that followed.
Baghel's imprint on many aspects of Congress operations has led to his reputation transcending Chhattisgarh borders and his growth as a national figure in the Congress camp. His ability to navigate the complex dynamics of national politics has seen him being deployed to woo the OBC community at the national level and steer the Congress election campaign in states like Assam.
But now Bhupesh Baghel finds himself at a critical juncture. The revelations from the Mahadev betting app scandal have been used by the BJP to puncture his standing. If the outcome of the polls isn’t in his favour, it will be a significant dent to Baghel's stature and political career.
His role in reviving the Congress in Chhattisgarh is undeniably historic, but the current political turbulence puts his leadership to the ultimate test. If he emerges victorious, the sky could be the limit for this 62-year-old Congressman who has the tactical prowess and the right caste credentials to go a long way in national politics.
Harsh Dubey is a political commentator based in Raipur. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of the publication.
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