Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s niece’s entry sparks revolt in Congress

BILASPUR: Nomination of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's niece Karuna Shukla to contest for Bilaspur seat has not gone down well with Bilaspur district Congress (rural) president Arun Tiwari, who quit his party post, blaming former chief minister Ajit Jogi for problems within the party.

"I am a Congressman. Even after resigning from party post, I will continue to work for Congress. Jogi got me this party post. Now I am returning it with thanks. I cannot be in politics wearing Jogi's mask," Tiwari said on Tuesday.

Claiming that Jogi pushed Karuna Shukla's name, Tiwari said Jogi family wanted to retain their monopoly in Bilaspur region's politics. "I am not the one who follows him blindly," he said.

Tiwari had publicly raised his voice against the move to admit Karuna Shukla into Congress and to field her from Bilaspur. But the party overruled his protest.

Referring to Jogi's reported statement after assembly polls that he would take sanyas for a year, Tiwari said, "It was a drama. If he wanted to take sanyas, he should have done it before assembly elections or after Lok Sabha elections."

After Tiwari announced his resignation, state Congress committee immediately appointed senior party leader Anil Ta as president of Bilaspur district Congress committee (rural). "It is a big responsibility entrusted to me at the eleventh hour, just ahead of polls," Ta said.