CM candidate Ajit Jogi not to contest in C'garh

In a major political twist in poll-bound Chhattisgarh, the Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Communist Party of India alliance announced on Friday that their Chief Minister candidate Ajit Jogi will not contest in the upcoming Assembly election.

Instead, Jogi would lead the alliance campaign in all 90 Assembly seats, the alliance partners said after an emergency meeting.

Jogi would focus on the seats under Bastar division first and later work on the constituencies going to polls in the second phase. Briefing the media, alliance leaders said Jogi's responsibility had doubled after the formation of the alliance. If he spends time on his contest, it could cost the alliance dear in Bastar division.

JCC (J) supremo Ajit Jogi said he would go by the decision of the alliance as it was a major step towards formation of alliance government in the state.

Irrelevant, says Cong
Commenting on the decision, Chhattisgarh Pradesh president Bhupesh Baghel ridiculed that the members of the Jogi family (daughter-in-law, son and wife) would be fighting the election from three different parties. Hence, JCC (J) had become irrelevant.

Jogi had earlier declared he would contest from Rajnandgaon, the constituency of Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh. He later decided to fight from two seats - the traditional Marwahi seat, his native place, which is now held by his son Amit Jogi, and from Rajnandgaon.