Membership drive exposes friction in Chhattisgarh Congress

During the last Congress membership drive in Chhattisgarh a few years ago, the party had only enlisted 3.95 lakh members. Jogi, who has been sidelined by the party over the years, now seeks to make as many as 5 lakh members on his own and capture the PCC next year. Also, taking a cue from Jogi, other leaders like Mohammad Akbar have also asked for a huge number of booklets.

The PCC has pointed out that Jogi’s demand is untenable as according to the party constitution, a leader can be given a maximum of 100 booklets or 2,500 forms. A leader can be given more forms only when he has submitted details of the booklets he had earlier obtained from the party.

Jogi, PCC claims, obtained just 150 booklets during the previous drive but has not submitted any detail of the members he roped in. “It is a crisis related to the party’s constitution. I will approach the high command and seek their guidelines” Baghel said.

Jogi, on his part, said he had submitted all details of the previous memberships and the refusal to give him booklets violated his rights as a Congress member.