Cong holds rally sans Jogi, Hariprasada still harps on unity

Raipur, September 05, 2013

Once again, state Congress ignored its senior legislator Ajit Jogi by keeping him at bay from its significant public rally at Patan on Thursday. On the other hand, as a damage control exercise, AICC general secretary and Chhattisgarh incharge BK Hariprasada, who reached Raipur to attend the rally, maintained that everything was fine in the party and the leaders were united.

“Jogi is in Delhi. He must be busy there. Therefore, he could not attend the rally,” said Hariprasada in a clarifying tone.

The state organisation claims that invitation pertaining to rally had been sent in advance to all the leaders including Jogi while the latter’s supporters rebut and say that their leader did not get any information.

Evidently, the standoff between Jogi and PCC programme coordinator Bhupesh Baghel, in whose assembly constituency the rally was organised, does not seem ending in the offing.

In the recent past, Jogi had indirectly targeted Baghel by organising a programme in his constituency in Ranitarai. He had even projected his local supporter as a potential candidate for assembly polls from the region. Miffed by Jogi’s attacks, Baghel launched offensive against Jogi and even complained about his parallel-party activities to high command.

When it seemed action against Jogi is imminent, the party supremo used party’s Chhattisgarh screening committee chairman CP Joshi to break ice between the former CM and the organisation.

The result was surprisingly positive as Jogi and his bete noir – PCC chief Charandas Mahant threw individual dinner parities and invited each other. Interestingly, Jogi did not invite Baghel in his dinner party, although Dhanendra Sahu, who too had complained against him to party leadership, was in his guest-list. Hence, by not inviting Jogi in Patan rally, Baghel is said to have taken revenge from Jogi.

‘Do not create difference between our leaders’

Apparently looked peeved by media’s back-to-back queries on Jogi, Hariprasada, before leaving to Patan, advised scribes not to create difference among Congress leaders.

“Usually, the PCC chief and CLP leader are supposed to remain present in the events like the one to be organised in Patan and both are coming alongwith me. So, there should be no fuss about anybody else,” he said.

To a question, he termed the BJP government as copycat. “The BJP is copying our programmes and events. This is happening in Madhya Pradesh too,” he said.