Congress leader Ajit Jogi threatens to form a new political party

In an open rebel act against the top leadership of Congress, former Chhattisgarh chief minister and veteran leader Ajit Jogi has hinted of parting ways from his own political party.

He came up saying Congress will not be able to stand strong against Chief Minister Raman Singh-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government and hence a big step needs to be taken.

Ajit Jogi's statement comes after nearly five months after he was expelled by the Congress for six years over charges that he helped fix the outcome of an assembly by-election last year.

“More than 1,000 people are in touch with me, personally and over phone. There is a lot of pressure on me by my well-wishers that if we want to have a Raman Singh-mukt Chhattisgarh, it cannot happen with Congress party as it is acting as a B-team of Raman Singh. Some big and strong step needs to be taken,” Jogi told reporters in Raipur on Thursday.

“After hearing my supporters, I feel if we want to defeat Raman Singh, the only way forward is that I lead. I have seen that we are getting a lot of support. I will go to Marwahi, which is my birth place and from where I have risen. First I want to take their permission, before I take the plunge,’’ he added.

Interestingly, this comes on a backdrop where speculations suggest Rahul Gandhi is likely to replace Sonia Gandhi as the party chief in coming days. Jogi is believed to be close to Sonia Gandhi who had appointed him as Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh in 2000.