Assembly elections 2013: Why Congmen cringe when BJP sings Ajit Jogi tune

BILASPUR/BHILAI: The ‘C’ in Chhattisgarh Congress could well stand for ‘cunning’. And everybody in the party attributes it to mascot-turned-enfant terrible Ajit Jogi.

Ahiwara, a reserved constituency in Durg is at the root of the mother of all conspiracies. On either side of this seat are Congress biggies and Jogi-baiters contesting — leader of opposition Ravindra Choubey from Saja and ex-deputy leader in the assembly Bhupesh Baghel from Patan.

Both have distanced themselves from Ahiwara candidate Ashok Dongre. Dongre is a neo-Baudh. But, the Satnami sub-caste , that makes or mars elections in the state, dominates Ahiwara. Now, the Satnamis are seething at the “betrayal” and eager to teach a lesson to whoever got Dongre the ticket.

When “planted” reports appeared claiming Dongre had Baghel’s blessings , alarm bells went off in the Baghel camp. Many remembered the 2008 election when leader of opposition Mahendra Karma and Baghel lost and Jogi was blamed for finishing off competition. “Jogi got Dongre the ticket to turn Satnamis against me,” Baghel said. Choubey said whoever “recommended Dongre’s name would have to answer” .

These intrigues represent how Jogi is perceived in the state Congress — the fi rst Chhattisgarh CM whose tenure is blamed for BJP’s ascendancy in the state. In Chhattisgarh , it is said that Jogi’s very name turns voters against Congress, feared as he is by upper castes and city dwellers. In the run up to the polls, there was a strong push for the ex-CM to be shown the door.

Jogi only brings Satnami votes to the Congress bag — a community he reportedly belongs to but insists he is a tribal. Apparently, Dalits would anyway vote Congress due to Raman Singh’s decision to slash Dalit job quotas to 12% from 16%. But Congress desisted from extreme action. The Naxal massacre of PCC leaders this May gave Jogi an opening. He forced the party to accommodate him, secured tickets for his wife and son. Now, he has a chopper and fl ies out to address rallies, but alone. Wary Congress leaders keep away from him. But BJP has seized upon his presence in the arena, talk endlessly about him, insisting he is Congress’s CM candidate.