Ajit Jogi, first Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh declared that his party Janta Congress Chhattisgarh will contest upcoming state elections against Raman Singh, incumbent Chief Minister and his party BJP.
In an interview with PTI, Jogi said he is not B team of BJP. He said, “Had I been B team I would not be contesting election from Rajnandgaon (the Chief Minister’s constituency). Had I been B team I would not have faced a baseless case of murder. There should not be a false case of dacoity against me. My son faced charges of hatching a conspiracy to murder. Had I been B team this all would not have happened.”
He emphasized on the need of a “mahagathbandhan” for 2019 Lok Sabha elections against BJP. But the coalition is not needed for the Assembly polls, he added.
Jogi was a member of Congress before leaving the party in 2016 and forming his own party, Janta Congress Chhattisgarh. He assured that he has no inkling of joining Congress again. He said, “It is so because I have taken a very conscious decision to leave the Congress and form my party (JCC). Going back to the Congress is a closed chapter.”
On BSP-Congress’ expected alliance in the state assembly elections, he said, “See whether the (BSP-Congress) coalition would happen or not, it (future course of action) will be decided only then. There may be some gains and losses. But, whenever such a coalition takes place then we will assess this. As of today, we are contesting all seats in the elections.”
Jogi also called Congress “obsolete and irrelevant” in Chattisgarh and that his main competition is with BJP in the coming elections.