Ajit Jogi floats party, asks for name suggestions

Former chief minister and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Ajit Jogi on Monday formally announced formation of his new party in his home constituency of Marwahi in Chhattisgarh’s Bilashpur district.

He, however, exhorted his supporters to suggest name for the new party.

A declaration announcing formation of “yet to be named” new party was made by his loyalist and former MLA of the Congress Dharamjit Singh in the presence of Mr Jogi and hundreds of his supporters at Kotmi under Marwahi on Monday afternoon. “A decision has been taken here to float a new party under the leadership of first chief minister of Chhattisgarh Ajit Jogi,” Mr Singh said while reading out the “Kotmi Declaration”.

Sitting MLA Siyaram Kaushik, former legislators Dharamjit Singh, Bidhan Mishra, Paresh Bagbahara, Gulab Singh and Hridayram Rathia and former minister D.P. Ghritlehere were among senior Congress leaders who were present on the occasion. Mr Jogi’s MLA son Amit, who was expelled from Congress, was also present on the occasion. Interestingly, Mr Jogi’s wife Renu, a Congress legislator, was not present on the occasion.

Addressing his followers assembled at the meet, Mr Jogi said his sole objective to float the new party was to fulfill aspirations of all sections of people of Chhattisgarh.

Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) president Bhupesh Baghel who was seen confining himself along with some senior party leaders in his chamber in the state Congress headquarters in Raipur to take stock of the situation, described it a “flop show”.

“Even 50,000 people could not be organized for the show”, Mr Baghel quipped, adding, “I have submitted a report to the party high command listing names of Congress leaders and workers who were present at his (Mr Jogi’s) meeting”.