Raipur, December 21
The recent development in Chhattisgarh Congress is bad omen for former CM Ajit Jogi who was aiming to take control of party unit in his hands either by getting PCC president’s post for his spouse or for one of his supporters. By abruptly appointing Bhupesh Baghel as new PCC president, Congress high command has made it evident that it is barely interested in entertaining advices of State leaders, especially Jogi who has always been in good terms with it and enjoyed special treatment due to his seniority and popularity in the party unit.
Not long ago, Jogi was thorn in the eyes of his fellow Congress leaders for his parallel party activities, but he agreed to bury the hatchet with rivals on persuasion of high command just before recent polls to wrest power in the State. However, the destiny spurned Congress for third time in a row and Jogi found himself stranded in no man’s land again.
He is more upset because the party supremo has given reins of State unit to Baghel, his anathema. Baghel is the only leader in the party who continued attacking Jogi through his acerbic remarks when others had called truce during polls. In fact, Baghel did not even hesitate in criticising Jogi when he was minister under latter’s chief minister-ship back in 2000-2003.
It would be interesting to see how Jogi would co-exist with Baghel in the party. Being senior to Baghel, he is less likely to follow the former’s instructions. In the past too, the PCC chiefs Dhanendra Sahu, Nandkumar Patel and Charandas Mahant had failed to tame him.
With general elections slated to be held in April-May 2014, the party has started internal preparations and would aim to win maximum number of seats in State. Like assembly polls, Jogi’s role will be equally crucial in Lok Sabha elections too as he too would be in fray this time. Last time, his spouse Dr Renu Jogi had contested LS polls from Bilaspur against BJP’s Dilip Singh Judeo and lost.
Sources say Jogi is thinking otherwise and might refuse to contest polls and prefer to steer poll campaign committee in State. They say instead of moving to New Delhi, Jogi wants to consolidate his son Amit’s position in the State by increasing his penetration in the organisation and its frontal units. Jogi’s intentions are clear – if he will not become CM, he will prepare his son for the job in next five years. In doing so, he will have to face challenge from Baghel who would let no stone unturned in strengthening organisational faction.
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