Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi is set to visit Chhattisgarh on April 12 for a one-day trip. This was confirmed by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who met with both Priyanka Gandhi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi. Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to address an election rally in poll-bound Karnataka on April 10 before heading to his parliamentary constituency in Wayanad, Kerala on April 11.

Priyanka Gandhi’s visit to Chhattisgarh is aimed at meeting with Anganwadi workers, assistants and Mitanin Sammelan in Raipur city. Meanwhile, there has been speculation about a potential change in the Chhattisgarh Congress organisation ahead of the assembly elections. Baghel confirmed that preparations were underway for the constitution of Congress Working Committee (CWC), after which changes could be made in the Chhattisgarh Congress. There has been talk of the removal of the current State Congress President Mohan Markam, with some party sources suggesting that Bastar MP Deepak Baij may take his place. However, several Congress leaders have denied that the party will change its State President ahead of the assembly elections. A rift between Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Mohan Markam has also been reported, with Baghel reportedly urging the Congress high command to remove Markam from the post of the Congress State President. For his part, Markam has said that he is ready to accept any decision made by the party. Baghel also commented on the recent postponement of a meeting between BJP MLAs and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He stated that while BJP National Vice-President Dr Raman Singh is able to meet the Prime Minister, he has been unable to arrange for his own MLAs to do so. Baghel also expressed surprise at Dr Raman Singh’s recent statement that the ED had completed its inquiry into the PDS scam.