Congress is 'B' team of BJP: Ajit Jogi

RAIPUR: Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi today raised a banner of revolt, threatening to form a new party and attacking Congress as "B team" of BJP in the state, drawing sharp reactions from his parent party, which said his exit will be a "good riddance".

"Around 15,000 persons are talking to me personally or on phone. I am under tremendous pressure from my well- wishers, supporters and friends that if Chattisgarh has to be made free from Raman Singh, then I will have to take this big step (of breaking away from Congress and forming a new party).

"Otherwise, Raman Singh will win the state for the fourth time as well as there is no hope from Congress, which is playing as B Team of Raman Singh," Jogi said.

His remarks are significant coming in the wake of media speculation that he will break away from Congress and announce formation of a new party on June 6 in Marwahi.

Jogi said that his workers are pressurising him to get rid of this government and "unless I lead that is not possible. That is why on the 6th, I will go to Marwahi, which is my birth place. That day I have also called 5,000 of my core supporters from all over the state. I will ask them."

To a question about whether he talked to the leadership in this regard, Jogi said," enough of talks have taken place in the last three years. Now there is compulsion."

Alleging that the Congress leadership in Chhattisgarh has failed to give a fight to BJP, Jogi said, "party's state unit chief Bhupesh Baghel and the leader of opposition in the Assembly TS Singhdeo are on the backfoot by their own acts".

He said, "the state needs a strong opposition. My supporters and well wishers want me to take a decision to free this State from corrupt governance. I will take a call in this regard on June 6".

Reacting sharply to the remarks, Jogis'old rival AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, recalled his role in the Antagarh assembly bypoll and referred to the audio tape regarding "fixing" of the election by Jogi.

"The manner in which Jogi has sold off the Congress candidate Manturam Pawar to the BJP is for all of you to see. It is beneficial for Congress if such persons leave the party, who are engaged in trading the declared candidate of Congress for some crores of rupees," Singh said.

A party leader speaking on the condition of anonymity said that Jogi's exit from the party will be "good riddance".