Why Jogi wants to cling to Gandhi family?

Raipur January 27, 2011

The Youth Congress (YC) elections in Chhattisgarh concluded on September 27, 2010 with the organisation getting a new face as president who belonged to a family living below poverty line (BPL) and dwelling in a small village. However, two persons had predicted the final results much earlier and they were AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi and former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi. To some extent, their objectives and future plans are similar, although their modus operandi distinguishes them apparently.
Rahul Gandhi is a person who wants to bring a paradigm shift in Congress party and aims to make it a ‘party of youths’ instead of ‘party of olds’. Hence, he inducted the democratic methodology of elections in YC for the first time knowing that his ‘young team’ would reflect ‘mini India’ as it would have equal representation of people from different social strata. But the Cambridge lad would have to learn that the meaning of ‘democratic form of elections’ in India varies according to the political equation of each state.
Unfortunately, the democracy in its convoluted form ensues with the ‘Bahubalis’ as victorious in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and adjoining states while the success saga of triumphant in some parts are linked to the concealed support of naxals, criminals and influential figures who are expert in arm twisting and rigging and history is created in place like Chhattisgarh with the blend of money, power and charisma.
This does not entail that Rahul is raw in Indian politics. In fact, he, too, is gradually getting au fait with the power politics clad with democracy at regional level and concomitantly attempting to figure out ‘the horses for long run’ who could help his party win in general elections if he would be fielded as Prime Minister candidate in coming years.
So, if Rahul says he is preparing for upcoming elections at grass root, he means it. Hence, his ultimate goal is not just to bask on family popularity but to develop adherents from national to janpad level. He knows, the opponents and his party dissidents label him future PM candidate because he belongs to Gandhi family, but he wants to get the opportunity on the basis on his work, not background. But, when majority of the elected members in YC polls are winning due to the backup of their political godfathers, then how can Rahul predict the results beforehand? It is possible. Rahul had anticipated about this turning point too, but he was also sure that at least some candidates would emerge in YC arena on their own gut.
For this, he is sending his close friend Sachin Rao to keep an analytical eye on all the happenings during the final YC results of each state. Sachin was present in Raipur too and he was continuously taking stock of the situation from the PRO and LROs. He was also assessing the winning candidates on Rahul’s given format. Therefore, the bigger plan is to prepare a list of young candidates in next couple of years and give them chance to fight Assembly and general elections instead of repeating old faces and facing embarrassment.
Now, if Ajit Jogi was aware about the state YC results then it is not exaggeration, but corroboration. When Jogi became the first CM of this state, the Congress did not find anyone else apt for the ‘hot seat’, not even three-time experienced CM of undivided Madhya Pradesh Pt Shyama Charan Shukla and his brother Vidya Charan Shukla, a key part of former PM Narsimha Rao cabinet. In three years of his tenure, Jogi became ‘one man army’ in Congress and the rest of the country was identifying Chhattisgarh either because of naxalites or due to Ajit Jogi.
But suddenly Jogi’s graph plunged and so did Congress party’s that lost two consecutive Assembly polls as well general elections. It was anticipated that Jogi would leave state politics and fly to New Delhi, but he rather preferred to stay here. Reason? He is craving to regain his lost power in the state and once he would find it, he has different plans, quite alike Gandhi family – to establish Jogi clan in the state party. For this, he first fielded his erudite spouse Dr Renu Jogi in the last Assembly elections from where she emerged victorious.
Then he fielded his son Amit Jogi as state YC president candidate.  But, before the Assembly level polls, Amit opted out by saying he never wished to become the contender for the coveted seat and his sole aim was to work for Rahul Gandhi and to increase the YC domain. Everything happened accordingly and the Jogis tasted success at organisational level for the first time with more than three quarters of their candidates winning the YC polls besides the president seat. The equations of the YC polls kept on changing due to subtle use of all means by every camp in Congress. Now, Rahul, willy-nilly, would have to acknowledge Jogi’s power in Chhattisgarh. This will help Jogi to convince AICC supremo Sonia Gandhi to give the responsibility of Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee to his spouse Dr Renu who has earned respect in the party due to her clean image. If Sonia would nod for Dr Renu, Jogi would try to ensure that Amit get enlisted among the candidates for next Assembly polls. With spouse and son in the state, Jogi would certainly wish to increase his stature in the party at national level and finally book the ticket to national capital.