Congress urges PM to pick Chhattisgarh leader as Vice President, cites lack of national representation

RAIPUR: The Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider a leader from the state for the vacant Vice President's post. The position became vacant after Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation. PCC chief Deepak Baij has written to the Prime Minister, requesting that a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Chhattisgarh be given the responsibility to ensure representation for the state.Baij has proposed the names of Ramesh Bais, a seven-time MP from Raipur and former Governor of Tripura, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra; Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker and three-time Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh; and senior BJP leaders Nankiram Kanwar and Dharamlal Kaushik.Baij has shed light on the rationale behind his letter to the Prime Minister, advocating for a leader from Chhattisgarh to be appointed as the Vice President. Baij highlighted the consistent lack of significant representation for the state in the Union Cabinet despite the strong performance of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Lok Sabha elections.In his letter to the Prime Minister, Baij stated, "There are several capable leaders within the Chhattisgarh BJP who are fit to hold the esteemed position of Vice President. Among them is former Governor Ramesh Bais, a distinguished leader who has served as a seven-time Member of Parliament and as Governor of states like Jharkhand, Tripura, and Maharashtra."Baij emphasised that the 10 BJP Members of Parliament from Chhattisgarh currently hold no significant portfolios. He urged the Prime Minister to prioritise Chhattisgarh for the Vice President's post, based on seniority and representing the aspirations of the state's people.Explaining the timing of the letter, Baij pointed out, "When Narendra Modi's government was formed at the Centre in 2014, 10 out of 11 Lok Sabha seats in Chhattisgarh were won by BJP MPs. Similarly, in 2019, the BJP secured 9 seats, and in the 2024 general elections, they won 10 seats, sending their MPs to Parliament."Baij expressed concern, stating, "It is a matter of distress for all of us that across all three terms, Chhattisgarh has only received representation at the Minister of State level." He asserted that the BJP should elevate its capable leaders to positions such as the Vice President.