Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday appointed Bhupesh Baghel as the AICC observer for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, possibly bringing the speculation over change of guard in Chhattisgarh to an end.

The Congress was in ferment in Chhattisgarh for the last few months despite a massive mandate because cabinet minister T.S. Singhdeo wanted to become the chief minister, saying there was an understanding of mid-way rotation with Baghel. The high command never formally denied the rotation formula but looked reluctant to change the chief minister.

While the MLAs supporting Singhdeo have been campaigning for a change for some time, supporters of Baghel reached Delhi over the last few days to lobby for their leader.

Over 35 MLAs are said to be in Delhi to convey to the high command that Baghel should not be changed.

Saturday’s decision to give him the charge of Uttar Pradesh indicates he is going to continue. His services might have been used because of the resources he can deploy as the chief minister.

Baghel promptly thanked Sonia for giving him the “big responsibility” and promised to rise to the party’s expectations.

Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot’s services were also used in Kerala elections earlier this year but there is a perception that his relations with the high command are strained now.

Baghel was given the task of overseeing the Assam Assembly election earlier this year and he created a robust support system there, running a strong campaign along with the state unit despite starting very late. The same set of people is being used in Uttar Pradesh to assist Priyanka Gandhi who is the general secretary in-charge.

Former minister Jitendra Singh, a Rahul Gandhi loyalist, who was in charge of Assam, is now looking after the candidate selection exercise in Uttar Pradesh.