Long-time Congressman and former Chhatisgarh CM Ajit Jogi has agin pulled teh spotlight back on himself and this time for saying he is leaving the grand old party and moving on. In an interview with The Indian Express correspondent Dipankar Ghose, exactly what Ajit Jogi has on his mind is explained, in his own words, in 5 brief points here:
1. Ajit Jogi: People got fed up, and have been telling me that you take over the reins to oppose Raman Singh. When it became clear that this will not happen within the Congress, people have been coming in thousands. Last week, I was meeting a thousand people a day, and everybody was telling me that if you are not getting leadership within the Congress, the time is right to form a third front to defeat Raman Singh.
2. Ajit Jogi: Politics for the rest of my life is going to be Chhattisgarh-centric. The 2.5 crore people of Chhattisgarh. I am not bothered of what is happening in Delhi or elsewhere. I want all decisions relating to Chhattisgarh taken in Raipur. I keep saying that this is the richest piece of land, inhabited by the poorest people. This contrast has to be removed.
3. Ajit Jogi: (On being asked why was that not possible within the Congress) In the first place, I don’t blame anyone in person, but those responsible for taking decisions. They somehow feel that strong leaders, whom we call regional satraps, should not be encouraged in states. With due modesty, I am the maximum leader of the state. I can say with a sense of responsibility, in all sections of society, they respect and love me. That is why the persons I am talking about, after 2003 when I ceased to be chief minister, saw to it that I was not given any role in the state. I was sidelined for so many years but I took it in my stride because of the love and affection I got from Rajivji and Soniaji.
4. Ajit Jogi: As far as Jairam Ramesh is concerned, he is Jai Jai Ram, one person who has never contested an election. I challenge him, contest the election of a corporator, or of a pradhan or sarpanch in a panchayat. He doesn’t know politics. He is somebody dropped from above. Just because he can speak good English or writes speeches, he doesn’t become a leader. So I don’t take him seriously.
5. Ajit Jogi: My pleading, since the beginning, has always been that the Nehruvian era has once again dawned. We must encourage regional satraps. But now there is no leadership that can stand up and say this must be done, because this is necessary for my state.