TS Singh Deo says AAP contacted him, but no question of leaving Congress

Raipur: According to reports, Aam Aadmi Party has attempted to contact angry leaders of the Congress and BJP in Chhattisgarh.

Minister for Health T S Singh Deo said that since five generations of his family have been associated with the party, it is difficult for him to think beyond it.

M. Singh Deo didn't deny that he had been contacted by the Arvind Kejriwal-led party during an informal interaction with media persons on Saturday at Raipur Press Club here.

"I haven't met Arvind Kejriwal ji. But it is also true that in politics, a lot of people remain in contact and they also make contact. It is not like people would not have contacted me. But I told them that five generations of my family were associated with the Congress and I cannot even think beyond it. I have a lot of respect for Sonia Ji and Rahul," Mr Singh Deo told the media.

"I will also never join the BJP. I don't want to be in such politics. A party with which I have ideological differences, I cannot work there as a public representative," he added.

It was reported last year that Bhupesh Baghel and Singh Deo would share the CM's tenure under a reported "power sharing formula" in Chhattisgarh.

As a result of the 2018 Assembly polls, Mr Baghel became the state's chief minister, though some sections of the party have repeatedly argued that, according to the agreement at the time, Singh Deo was supposed to take over after two-and-a-half years.