Two days after moving into the official residence earmarked for him-a sprawling colonial-era bungalow in Raipur's Civil Lines-Chhattisgarh's fourth chief minister and the first from the tribal community to hold the post, Vishnu Deo Sai, had a packed schedule. On March 9, Union defence minister Rajnath Singh was in the city for a political programme that ran a bit beyond schedule. The CM had committed to visiting an ashram in neighbouring Sonpairi village in the evening; he planned to return by 8.30 pm. After running late, Vishnu Deo shared with his aides that he may not be able to make it, but eventually gave in to the ashram head's insistence. Vishnu Deo finally left at 9, only to return to the CM House past 11 pm.
Back home, a large number of people were still waiting to see him from all over the state, many coming from as far off as Jashpur, his home district, some 450 km from the state capital. Some of those waiting feared that the CM, who had had a long day, would not meet them. But they probably didn't know of Vishnu Deo's mildmannered, affable style of functioning.
Others vouch for his inherently inclusive nature. "Even if it takes another two hours, Vishnu Deoji will meet everyone. That's how he has been ever since his MLA days. He understands the importance of a personal connect," says a businessman from Korba who has known him for many years. Just then, the CM appeared in the waiting hall and greeted everyone, many of them by their first name-a clear sign of a man who has risen through the ranks. When he finally had time to speak with INDIA TODAY, it was well past midnight.
Esta historia es de la edición March 25, 2024 de India Today.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición March 25, 2024 de India Today.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
The Politics Of Reservation
Caste Quotas Have Become The Most Fractious And Polarising Issue In Election 2024, With The Potential To Influence The Final Outcome
BACK IN ACTION
Besides making a thrilling comeback with Tipppsy, Deepak Tijori is working on pushing the boundaries with new projects
THE POWER OF PATIENCE
A steady approach has helped badminton player Lakshya Sen secure a spot in the upcoming Paris Olympics
Great Balls of Fire
The sport of PICKLEBALL is set to get a boost in India with the launch of the World Pickleball League here
Man of Many Ideas
Vanya Vaidehi Bhargav questions simplistic notions of Lala Lajpat Rai's politics in this well-researched book
THE HINDU NATIONALIST
Janaki Bakhle's Savarkar and the Making of Hindutva is a deep dive into the creation of the ideologue
LOVE CONQUERS
IKKA's third album Only Love Gets Reply brings together bigwigs like Diljit Dosanjh, Badshah and Karan Aujla, among others
The Great Indian Village
Everyone's favourite OTT show, Panchayat, is back for a third season on Amazon Prime Video. Expect a lot of laughs
VISUAL CONSTRUCTS
CLASSICS OF MODERN SOUTH ASIAN ARCHITECTURE ARE PORTRAYED IN THESE VOLUMES
TROPICAL TROPES
Tropical Modernism, an exhibition at the V&A, London, looks at the adoption of this architectural style in post-independence India and Ghana