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.
