Congress asks BJP to sack Raman

The Congress on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sack Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh for allegedly influencing and using money against party candidate Manturam Pawar to make him withdraw from the Assembly byelection last year in the light of revelations in an audio-taped conversation.

It also pressed for a probe by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court after audio tapes emerged suggesting financial inducements. While the Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (CPCC) issued a showcause notice to party legislator Amit Jogi and asked him to explain the matter within seven days, the PCC, which is inquiring into the episode against the backdrop of the purported taped conversation, will send its report to the AICC disciplinary action committee to take a call on action against former chief minister Ajit Jogi.

CPCC president Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday demanded chief minister Raman Singh’s Mr Baghel appealed to governor B.D. Tondon to take suo motu cognisance of the matter and sack the CM.

An audio tape, leaked to the media, had allegedly caught the CM’s doctor son-in-law, Puneet Gupta, Congress leader and former CM Ajit Jogi and his MLA son Amit, and three senior Congress leaders striking a deal to make party candidate Manturam Pawar withdraw from the fray. Mr Pawar had withdrawn from the contest at the last moment, denying the party the opportunity to re-nominate another candidate for the byelection held in 2014.

The Chhattisgarh developments come at a time when the ruling BJP is gearing up for Assembly elections in five states. While the AAP has put the BJP leaders in the dock over the DDCA scam, the Congress has not given up the issue of “Lalitgate” and its demand for the resignations of Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje and Union minister Sushma Swaraj.

Responding to questions on Mr Amit Jogi and Mr Jogi’s alleged role in helping the CM by withdrawing the Congress candidate, AICC communications department chief Randeep Surjewala said the Congress had then alleged that the Chhattisgarh CM made the Congress candidate withdraw by offering inducements. The Congress had then expelled Mr Manturam Pawar from the party soon after he withdrew his candidature for Antagarh Assembly bypoll.

“The tapes now prima facie prove the allegation. Keeping in view his tall promises of not allowing corruption at any cost, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should immediately sack, dismiss or force Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh to resign. The matter should be probed by a Supreme Court sitting judge,” he said.

Mr Surjewala said since the names of Congress leaders have also surfaced in the tape, their conduct should also be probed. “Examine the role of all by including that of Ajit Jogi or any other Congress leader’s conduct. Since the CM holds a top constitutional post in the state, he should immediately be asked to ensure a fair probe.

“Congress also assures that it will take appropriate action against its leaders if the probe finds anything against them. Congress stands committed to take action on the basis of the outcome of the probe,” Mr Surjewala said.