Former Chief Minister of Chhatisgarh Ajit Jogi addressing a press conference in Raipur.
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Reacting to the development, AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh observed that it was good for Congress persons like him (Mr Jogi) who did not hesitate to sell party candidate for crores of rupees to BJP as was recorded in audio, leaving the party.
Talking to “The Hitavada” over phone, Kota MLA Dr Renu Jogi denied any comment on the decision of her husband to separate ways with Congress. She said that she was aware of the discontentment of Ajit Jogi on being sidelined in the decision for Rajya Sabha candidature.
Mr Jogi, a former Chhattisgarh chief minister, had said last week that he had no choice but to quit Congress to make the state “Raman Singh Mukt” (free from CM Raman Singh).
While the Congress has 39 legislators in the 90-member assembly, the ruling BJP has 49 and one seat each is held by Bahujan Samaj Party and an Independent. That is why on June 6, I will go to Marwahi, my birth place.
In the meeting which according to people close to Jogi, the former Chief Minister is most likely to announce a new party and the name of the party, symbol and flag etc. will be decided in this meeting in consultation with his supporters.
“The party high command will be informed about the Congress legislators and leaders who took part in the programme”, Baghel told PTI.
“People are asking me the reasons behind this move (formation of a new party)”. I will have to take the lead in it.
“Jogi has not given resignation from the party therefore he is a party member as of now. He was involved in Andhra, Telangana, Assam, where the Congress is receding”, he said.
Mr Jogi had earlier expressed his displeasure over the Central party leadership not taking him into confidence while giving RS ticket to Chayya Verma, a loyalist of Mr Baghel, considered his bête noir. The BJP will hope that even if a new party is formed, the Jogis and the Congress leadership will continue to snipe at each other so fractious is their relationship.
Amit Jogi was expelled from the Congress in January this year after a leaked telephonic conversation allegedly pointed fingers at him for fixing a by-election in favour of the BJP by putting only a “demo fight from the Congress side”.
At the AICC briefing in Delhi, party spokesman Jairam Ramesh said Jogi’s parting of ways was painful.
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A third regional front could drastically change the political dynamics in a state that has been dominated by the BJP and Congress. A Congress leader said, “Jogi is a mass leader”.
