Chhattisgarh Cong issues notice to MLA over allegations against minister

The ruling Congress in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday night issued a notice to party MLA Brihaspati Singh who has alleged threat to his life from Health Minister TS Singh Deo, an issue which rocked the assembly and prompted the latter to walk out of the House in a huff earlier in the day.

As the row intensified in the Congress over allegations levelled against T S Singh Deo by the MLA, the party moved swiftly and launched a damage control exercise.

As per the notice, issued by Ravi Ghosh, acting general secretary (administration) of the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC), MLA Brihaspati Singh has to submit a written clarification over his allegations within 24 hours.

In the notice, Ghosh has referred to statements made by the Congress legislator in connection with a July 24 incident that “Singh Deo is Maharaja and he can get him killed” and “TS Singh Deo can murder 4-5 MLAs for the chair” in the media and asked him on what basis he had leveled such allegations against a senior leader and minister of the party.

The MLA has been asked about the facts based on which the allegations were leveled.

“I believe that you (Brihaspati Singh) should have kept such things in the party forum as during the aforementioned incident party’s state in-charge PL Punia, co-incharge Chandan Yadav and Saptgiri Ulka were present in Chhattisgarh. Your act has maligned the party’s image,” Ghosh said in the notice.

On Sunday, the MLA from Ramanujganj claimed a vehicle in his convoy was attacked in Surguja district allegedly at the behest of TS Singh Deo on Saturday evening because he (Brihaspati Singh) had praised Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel amid talks about a purported formula for sharing of the CM’s post.

On Saturday, one Sachin Singh Deo, said to be a distant relative of minister TS Singh Deo, and his two associates had a minor altercation with personal security officers and the driver of a vehicle in Brihaspati Singh’s convoy in Ambikapur.

However, during the incident the Congress MLA was not at the spot.

Later, the MLA reached local Kotwali police station and lodged a complaint against Sachin Singh Deo and three others following which they were apprehended by the police.

As per the complaint, the accused had also damaged the windshield of the vehicle of the MLA’s convoy and abused the PSOs and driver.

The issue took a political twist when the MLA next day alleged that Singh Deo could get him “killed”.

Reacting to the allegations, minister TS Singh Deo, who represents Surguja in the assembly, had said people in his area and in the state know about him very well as his image is in the public domain, and he has nothing more to say on the issue.

On Tuesday, Singh Deo walked out of the assembly after saying he will not attend the proceedings of the House until the state government gives a clear reply over the allegations made against him by Brihaspati Singh.

The minister, who left the assembly premises, later came back and held discussion with Chief Minister Baghel in his chamber in the assembly during which some other cabinet ministers were also present.

After the discussion, Singh Deo said he had also spoken to PL Punia (over the phone).

The opposition BJP said the development indicates a “constitutional crisis” in the state and sought a probe into the issue by a committee of assembly members.

Meanwhile, several district-level office bearers of the Congress from the Surguja division, considered as bastion of TS Singh Deo, have demanded stern disciplinary action against Brihaspati Singh.