It’s Raman vs Jogi in Rajnandgaon bypoll

Even as the Opposition Congress is planning to drum up the issue of corruption with the cash-for-query scandal, in which the then BJP MP Pradeep Gandhi was implicated, Jogi’s arrest in the Ram Avtar Jaggi murder case has provided another issue. Political observers believe his arrest has only portrayed him as the victim of oppression.

As part of its damage control efforts, the Chief Minister is scheduled to address several rallies in various parts of the constituency. Tourism and Revenue Minister B M Agrawal and Home Minister Ram Vichar Netam are also leading the party cadres in various parts.

A senior BJP functionary said junior ministers and councillors have been asked to meet voters in small settlements and monitor polling trends on the day of polling. BJP’s seriousness regarding the bypolls can be gauged from the fact that the government had successfully lobbied for a curtailed Budget Session of the Chhattisgarh Assembly.

But electioneering has reached a fever pitch with Jogi’s presence in the constituency, which has emerged as a BJP stronghold in the last few polls. Sources in the BJP said the CM is under pressure to help retain the seat. With his party suffering a humiliating defeat in December 2006 at the hands of Jogi in the Kota Assembly bypoll, Singh will have to pull out all stops to manage a victory here.

The Chief Minister represented the seat until December 2003 when the BJP asked him to head the Chhattisgarh government. Singh began his political career in 1983 as a councillor in Kawardha district. “The loss will be seen here purely as a decline in his popularity and can spoil the CM’s image,” a senior leader pointed out.

The bypoll was necessitated after the Supreme Court upheld a decision of Parliament to disqualify 11 MPs, including Pradeep Gandhi from Rajnandgaon, in the cash-for-query scam.