With the counting of votes for the Chhattisgarh civic elections to be held on Sunday, Chief Minister Raman Singh and the former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi will be keeping a close eye on the results, as the outcome may have a bearing on their political careers.
While a loss for the BJP could add to the growing clamour for Mr. Raman Singh’s replacement, Mr. Jogi, the only pan-Chhattisgarh leader of the Congress, is most likely to be at the receiving end whether his party loses or wins the elections.
A Congress leader from a rival camp said Mr. Jogi’s decision to withdraw from the election campaign was a “sentimental” one.
Win–win situation
“There were some issues regarding distribution of ticket to his candidates and he pulled out of the campaign. But this is a win-win situation for us. If we lose, we will blame Mr. Jogi for withdrawal from campaign and if we win, we can show to the Delhi high command that the party can do better without him,” said a leader (requesting anonymity) close to Congress State president Bhupesh Baghel, who is perceived to be the leader of the anti-Jogi faction.
However, a leader from the Jogi camp said it was not new for the section against him to blame him for every defeat in the state.
“They [anti-Jogi camp] have always done it. Also, the reason for Mr. Jogi’s withdrawal was the denial of ticket to minorities in many seats,” the leader said.
Asked about his withdrawal from campaign and plans by the rival camp, Mr. Jogi said, “We can’t go public about internal party affairs. Our party constitution does not permit it.”
The rival camp, however, is worried about the possibility that in case of a defeat, the heavyweight politician might use it against the current state leadership.
Mr. Raman Singh campaigned extensively during the elections amid growing rumours within BJP circles about his removal.
Asked for his reaction, a senior State Minister said, “We did face a tough time because of the fake ration card issue, withdrawal of paddy bonus and sterilisation deaths, and a dampening performance could swing the scale against the Chief Minister, but with Mr. Jogi’s withdrawal from the campaign, Mr. Raman Singh is hoping to at least repeat the previous performance.”
The BJP holds eight of the 11 mayoral posts that went to the polls in two phases last month, whereas Congress holds the rest, including the municipal corporations of Raipur and Bilaspur.
