New Delhi, December 15: A day after Congress president Rahul Gandhi announced the name of Ashok Gehlot as Chief Minister of Rajasthan, he is most likely to declare the CM for Chhattisgarh on Saturday at 5 pm. As per the reports, Sonia Gandhi has already reached Rahul’s residence in New Delhi and the meeting has begun.

All the four contenders – Bhupesh Baghel, TS Singhdeo, Charan Das Mahant and Tamradhwaj Sahu – will attend the meeting at Gandhi’s residence in the national capital, where Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge and Chhattisgarh PCC chief PL Punia would also ensure their presence. Chhattisgarh CM to Be Announced at CLP Meet on Saturday.

Among the contenders, Patan legislator Bhupesh Baghel is the first choice of Congress party, while Ambikapur MLA TS Singhdeo is considered as the second choice. Durg lawmaker Tamradwaj Sahu and Korba MLA Dr Charan Das Mahant are the other choices of the party.

To decide the party’s face in Chhattisgarh, other senior leaders are most likely to attend the meeting, and it is speculated that Rahul Gandhi would declare the face by the end of the day.

With a win in Chhattisgarh, Congress ended 15-year-rule of Dr Raman Singh-led Bharatiya Janata Party. Congress decimated BJP to 15 seats in the recently-held Assembly elections and secured 68 seats. However, Bahujan Samaj Party-Janta Congress Chhattisgarh alliance managed to win seven seats.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 15, 2018 12:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).