Early on Sunday afternoon, Congress leaders realised Raman Singh and the BJP were all set for a hat-trick in Chhattisgarh. Leaders and supporters refused to take calls after lunch. State party president Charandas Mahant, however, did and explained the reason for the defeat.
“All our senior leaders were defeated and I will call it bhitarghat [sabotage from inside the party],” said the State Congress chief.
Later addressing a press conference, Mr. Mahant said the party needed to analyse why the top leaders were defeated.
From the conversation with the Congress chief, the message was clear. The State Congress leaders have decided to go after the former Chief Minister, Ajit Jogi. That Mr. Jogi had put up rebel candidates to defeat his own party colleagues was an allegation senior State level leaders were reiterating over the last few weeks. While Mr. Jogi refused to respond to the allegation then, on Sunday he could not be reached for comment.
Mr. Jogi, being the most experienced politician of Chhattisgarh, knows that his colleagues will be gunning for him over the next few months. And perhaps — once the shockwave subsides — he will make a comeback, believe his loyalists. “He is like Mohinder Amarnath and will make a comeback again and soon,” said one of his loyalists.
BJP supporters erupted in celebrations early on Sunday evening. “I saved crackers from Diwali to celebrate today… a hat-trick of Raman Singh is more important for me than the BJP’s victory,” said Ramesh Kujur, a businessman from Ambikapur.
Hat-trick for Congress too: Raman SinghLater, while addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Raman Singh added to what Mr. Kujur said: “More than my victory, it is also a hat-trick for the Congress — a hat-trick of defeat.”
