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  India   Ajit Jogi in race for Congress Rajya Sabha ticket

Ajit Jogi in race for Congress Rajya Sabha ticket

Published : Apr 25, 2016, 6:32 am IST
Updated : Apr 25, 2016, 6:32 am IST

The Rajya Sabha elections in Chhattisgarh, slated in May this year, may prove to be an acid test for beleaguered Congress leader and former chief minister Ajit Jogi, currently battling hard to wriggle

The Rajya Sabha elections in Chhattisgarh, slated in May this year, may prove to be an acid test for beleaguered Congress leader and former chief minister Ajit Jogi, currently battling hard to wriggle out of controversy over fixing of an Assembly by-election in Chhattisgarh in 2014. Two RS seats from Chhattisgarh are falling vacant in May this year following expiry of tenures of sitting RS members Mohsina Kidwai of Congress and Nand Kumar Sai of BJP. Both the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress in Chhattisgarh have enough members in the state Assembly to send a member each to the Upper House. With Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee president Bhupesh Baghel reportedly mounting pressure on the AICC to nominate a Satnami, a dalit community having sizeable population in the state, the former chief minister has also reportedly thrown his hat into the ring.

Mr Kutte has been projected as prospective candidate for RS by the PCC chief, sources said. Incidentally, Mr Jogi’s supporters have also started lobbying with the AICC leadership to nominate him for RS by the party.

Sources said Mr Jogi who is facing expulsion from the party for his alleged role in the fixing of Antagarh by-election leading to victory of ruling BJP candidate, was reportedly eyeing the RS seat to wriggle out of the situation.

Mr Hariprasad has indicated that he has received representations from several quarters in the party for the RS ticket and forwarded them to AICC president Sonia Gandhi for final decision.

Location: India, Chhatisgarh, Raipur