In Chhattisgarh, Congress has an upper hand: Ajit Jogi, former Chief Minister

There have been reports that you have been announcing candidates unilaterally. Are you unhappy with the way the Congress has treated you?


Not at all. This was false propaganda by vested interests. The rallies being talked about were all non-political rallies. We had a Dalit leader, Mini Mata. Every year we celebrate her death anniversary for a week and I am invited as the chief guest. I addressed 10 such rallies in a week. People said I haven’t taken the names of (Sonia) Gandhi or the Congress party. It couldn’t be. I was only talking about Mini Mata. In my speeches, it is my personal style, I take a few names to thank people who have helped in the organisation of a rally. This is to say I know your names. It was interpreted as naming candidates. How could I have projected five people from one constituency?

Is the party consulting you in candidate selection?

Yes. It is as usual. There hasn’t been an election where they haven’t. Are you seeking three tickets for the family — for yourself, your wife and son Amit? I have left it to Sonia ji. One person should contest or three or nobody — whatever she decides. At present, two of us — my wife and I — are MLAs.

The state leadership is on one side and you on the other. Won’t these differences affect the Congress in the forthcoming elections?

These are our internal matters. Our party constitution prohibits us from talking about it. I, for one, being a member of the Congress Working Committee, will not violate this rule. But I would say one thing — before ticket distribution everyone tries to get tickets for their own people. After these tickets are decided all of us have to come together under the leadership of Mrs Gandhi.

Do you see yourself as a chief ministerial candidate?

In Congress nobody can see himself as a chief ministerial candidate. That kind of projection Opinion polls predict another defeat for the Congress in Chhattisgarh... I don’t say surveys are totally wrong. But there are three aspects — most of these surveys were confined to urban areas, the sample size was not big enough and they were conducted long before the polls. We have been doing our own surveys — I can say for my state — we have an upper hand.

How will you fare in the Naxal-affected Bastar?

Bastar will be a key to government formation in Chhattisgarh. It has always held the key. If what Election Commission has promised, if those steps are implemented and fair polls are conducted in Bastar, Congress will have an edge over BJP.

– Interviewed by Nidhi Sharma