Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel follows Kamal Nath's lead, waives farm loans
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Bhupesh Baghel has served as Congress party chief for Chattisgarh and is also an MLA from Patan, he is credited for bringing the party back to power after 15 years in oblivion.
Senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel was sworn in as Chhattisgarh chief minister on Monday.
Baghel is Chhattisgarh`s third chief minister and the Congress party's second chief minister in the state. Meanwhile, Congress leaders TS Singh Deo and Tamradhwaj Sahu took oath as ministers in the new cabinet.
Present on the occasion were former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, and other Congress leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Motilal Vora, PL Punia, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Sharad Yadav of Loktantrik Janata Dal party, Babulal Marandi, Rajbabbar, Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, among others.
Shortly after the ceremony, Baghel said that the decision to waive farm loans has been taken.
"Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel: Congress President Rahul Gandhi had announced that farm loans will be waived within 10 days and that Minimum Support Price (MSP) for maize will be increased to Rs 2500 from Rs 1700 per quintal. These two decisions have been taken today," Baghel told media.
Raipur: Bhupesh Baghel takes oath as the next Chief Minister of #Chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/YMOnKaOf92
— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2018
Baghel is a Kurmi leader who represents Patan Assembly constituency in Durg district. He has been the president of Chhattisgarh Congress since 2014.
Earlier in the day, the venue of Baghel's oath-taking ceremony was changed due to rainfall. The venue has been changed from Science College ground to Balbir Singh Juneja Indoor Stadium in Raipur, news agency ANI reported.
Bhupesh Baghel has served as Congress party chief for Chattisgarh and is also an MLA from Patan, he is credited for bringing the party back to power after 15 years in oblivion.
Chhattisgarh CM: Our third decision is related to Jhiram Ghati. Total 29 people including prominent leaders like Nand Kumar Patel were killed. Conspirators haven't been exposed. No such massacre of politicians ever took place in history. To nab the culprits, a SIT has been formed pic.twitter.com/Qj4wCCyJUP
— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2018
Apart from Baghel, TS Singh Deo, Tamradhwaj Sahu and Charan Das Mahant were the top contenders for the post.
After mulling over various options for the past four days, Rahul Gandhi led Congress decided on Baghel, said sources.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, senior Congress leaders Kamal Nath and Ashok Gehlot were sworn in as the chief ministers of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan respectively.