TS Singhdeo’s appointment as deputy chief minister in the Congress government in Chhattisgarh is partly a reward for his loyalty to the party, and partly a message to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who has emerged as a regional strongman. Mr. Baghel led the return of the Congress party in the 2018 assembly elections in the state after a gap of 15 years. With his ear to the ground, Mr. Baghel instinctively senses the political mood of the state, and under his leadership the Congress party has devised a unique mobilization model. The party won 68 of the state’s 90 assembly seats in 2018 and continues to consolidate its support base in the government. A combination of welfare schemes, an innovative evocation of Chhattisgarh’s sub-national identity, and social engineering that brought other backward class communities closer to it, put the Congress in an advantageous position against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The state government also launched several schemes promoting Hindu sentiments in response to the Hindutva politics of the BJP. All this not only boosted the Congress, but also strengthened the Chief Minister in such a way that others in the party felt the uncomfortable weight of his growing power.
Strong regional leadership poses a distinct dilemma for national parties such as the Congress and the BJP. On the one hand, they strengthen the party, while on the other hand, the stronger they are, the more they can deviate from the national agenda of the party. Strong leaders are often reluctant to subject themselves to processes within the party or through institutions. Balancing this essential need for strong leadership with the imperatives of party decorum is no easy task. Mr. Baghel has created a model for taking on the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, which the Congress can try to replicate in other comparable regions. But the Congress cannot afford to be swallowed up by success. The history of the party in the state is instructive. Under the leadership of the late Ajit Jogi, the state’s first chief minister, the party fizzled out as it alienated communities and its own leaders. Mr. Baghel’s leadership was a key factor in the party’s revival, but many others, known and unknown, also contributed. To retain power in the state, the Congress will have to keep everyone together. Hence, the elevation of Shri Singhdev is the first step in the right direction. Much more remains to be done, including renewed outreach to tribal communities. But at least the Congress seems ready to form a united front in Chhattisgarh.