Speculation rife about merger of JCC (Jogi) with Congress

Staff Reporter :

RAIPUR,

THERE is speculation of Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (Jogi) merging with Congress party after the death of JCC (Jogi) founder President and former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, who passed away on May 29. Chhattisgarh Congress In-charge P L Punia would visit the state soon and he would announce the merger of the JCC (Jogi) with the Congress party. After the death of Ajit Jogi, a leadership crisis has arisen in the JCC (Jogi) and in such condition; most leaders of the JCC (Jogi) are worried about their political future within the party. Most leaders from the JCC (Jogi) are willing to join the Congress and they are seeing their political future in the Congress party that is in power under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in the State.

Speaking to ‘The Hitavada’ over telephone on Sunday, JCC (Jogi) MLA from Khairagarh Devwrat Singh, however, denied the merger of the JCC (Jogi) with the Congress party. “No discussion took place in the party forum about the merger of JCC (Jogi) with the Congress party. It is only rumour that is being spread by the media which are facing news crisis during the corona crisis. The funeral of Ajit Jogi took place yesterday and how could such a discussion take place,” said the JCC MLA. Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) President Mohan Markam told ‘The Hitavada’ that no discussion has been held so far within the party forum about the merger of the JCC (Jogi) with the Congress.

Any such decision will be taken by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Chhattisgarh Congress In-charge P L Punia after the Congress high command give its nod. “We should wait for the decision of the Congress high command. It would be early to say anything about the merger of the JCC (Jogi),” said Markam. A Congress leader on condition of anonymity told ‘The Hitavada’ that the Congress party has 69 MLAs in the Chhattisgarh legislative assembly.

The Congress party is facing difficulty to manage its MLAs. If the JCC (Jogi) is merged with the Congress, the strength of the Congress would reach upto 73 in the Chhattisgarh legislative assembly, in such situation it will be more difficult for the party to manage these MLAs. So the Congress leadership doesn’t want to take risk at this time because dissatisfaction may spread within the Congress party. So the party leadership would delay in taking any decision and the party leadership will consider the merger of the JCC (Jogi) when the 2023 assembly elections would be near, the leader added. Meanwhile, the Congress leaders are avoiding giving any media statement regarding the merger of the JCC (Jogi). During the Lok Sabha elections, Ajit Jogi and Dr Renu Jogi had approached central Congress leadership for their return into the Congress fold. But then Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) President Bhupesh Baghel and senior Congress leader T S Singhdeo had opposed Ajit Jogi’s return into the Congress fold. A speculation about the Cabinet reshuffle is also rising.

One more MLA from Bastar region may get cabinet birth in Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel government. The Congress party sources claimed that the cabinet reshuffle may be delayed by six months due to the corona crisis. The Congress high command is annoyed with the performance of four sitting cabinet ministers of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel led Congress government. Some new faces may be inducted in the cabinet, the sources added. Political appointments in boards, corporations and commissions may be delayed by next six months due to the corona crisis. The Congress leaders also complained to the Congress high command regarding three political appointments in Chhattisgarh State Waqf Board, State Commission for Minorities and State Haj Committee.