MLA campaign to bring Jogi back to Cong

Amarjeet Bhagat, a tribal MLA from Sarguja, said members of the SC, ST community were behind Jogi and may desert the party in the polls if he is not brought back.

For the past three days, Jogi loyalists have stormed three district-level Congress meetings at Raipur, Bilaspur and Raigarh and prevented Rajender Prashad Shukla, a former speaker, from addressing the meetings. Vora and Mahant had chalked out workers8217; sammelans to remobilise the Congress activities in the districts after the party8217;s defeat in the Assembly elections.

But Jogi loyalists refused to listen, shouting slogans, and insisted on a firm assurance on revoking Jogi8217;s suspension.

The draft expressing support, carrying the MLAs8217; signatures, was apparently drawn up at Jogi8217;s Raipur residence where he camped for four days. The Congress has a strength of 37 MLAs in the Assembly.

This is not first time Jogi has tried to demonstrate that majority of the MLAs are with him. A week ago, Jogi loyalist PCC general secretary Shiv Dehria had tried to move a resolution in the CLP meeting to enlist Party8217;s support to put pressure on Sonia in Jogi8217;s suspension case.