Raipur, December 17: Congress veteran Bhupesh Baghel was on Monday sworn-in as the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh. The oath-taking ceremony was delayed as the venue of swearing-in had to be replaced due to unexpected rainfall. Along with Baghel, his challengers to the CM post -- TS Singh Deo and Tamradhwaj Sahu -- also took oath as Cabinet Ministers. The portfolios would be allocated later.

57-year-old Baghel emerged as the top contender for the chief ministerial post after the Congress, under his leadership, won 68 of the 90 seats in the Chhattisgarh assembly elections 2018. He was, however, challenged by Deo, the Leader of Opposition in the outgoing assembly. The third aspirant was Sahu, the 69-year-old lawmaker from Durg constituency in the Lok Sabha. Loan Waiver Will Be Announced in First Cabinet Meet: Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel.

Profile of Bhupesh Baghel, the Congressman Who Replaces 15 Years of Raman Raj:

Baghel was born on August 23, 1961 in Durg, then part of undivided Madhya Pradesh, in a farmer's family. He joined the Congress in early 80s', when he was involved in student politics.

After his stint with the Indian Youth Congress and the Madhya Pradesh Youth Congress, Baghel made his electoral debut in 1993 -- winning the legislative seat of Patan. On his re-election from the constituency in 1998, he was appointed as a Minister for Public Grievance Department in the Digvijaya Singh-led Madhya Pradesh government.

In 2000, when Chhattisgarh was carved out as a  separate state, Baghel held Revenue, Public Health Engineering and Relief Work in the first government of the state, led by the then Congress veteran Ajit Jogi.

In 2004, Baghel was elected to the Lok Sabha from the Durg parliamentary seat. In 2009, he was re-elected to the Lower House, this time from Raipur seat.

In 2013, Baghel made his return to state politics, successfully contesting from Patan seat. He was appointed as the Pradesh Congress Committee chief, while also holding the charge of Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Chhattisgarh assembly.

Baghel was appointed as the Pradesh Congress Committee chief in 2014, after the entire top brass of the Congress leadership was eliminated in a militant attack by the Maoists.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 17, 2018 07:02 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).