Voters in Bhojpur being told that he will be CM if party wins
BHOPAL: Former state Congress president Suresh Pachauri, who is going to contest Assembly elections from Bhojpur, is also a contender in the race for ‘ would- be chief minister’. The followers of Pachauri in Bhojpur during election campaigning are telling the voters to vote for Pachauri as the latter would become chief minister, if Congress comes to power. The buzz might help the Congress in Bhojpur but it is also not going down well with other leaders in the party.
The followers of Pachauri maintain that since most tickets have been given to the people connected to Pachauri so if Congress comes to power, he will have a big number of his supporters in the Congress legislature party ( CLP). They also maintain that their dominance in the CLP will make the party high command ask Pachauri take over as CM in the state.
Apart from Pachauri, the other contenders for the post of chief minister in the Congress include election campaign committee president Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union minister Kamalnath, state Congress president Kantilal Bhuria and leader of opposition Ajay Singh.
On the other hand, the buzz has annoyed the supporters of Scindia in Gwalior- Chambal division. They hold that Scindia will be the chief minister as he is the most popular Congress leader in the state.Meanwhile, Union minister Kamalnath on Tuesday, in a press conference said decision on chief minister will be made only on December 8, when election results would be declared.
In the previous assembly elections, Pachauri was indirectly projected as chief minister candidate. This had made a section in the Congress unhappy and theAfter frictions developed between Congress leaders over ticket distribution, the issue of Pachauri’s involvement in race for chief ministership, might further deepen the conflict within the party.
The confidants of Scindia are also publicising that Pachauri will be made assembly speaker if Congress makes its government in the state.
Sources said Pachauri and BJP candidate Surendra Patwa will have a tough contest. Pachauri’s followers are claiming that he will be the CM while Patwa followers hold that he will become a minister.
