Ready to be back, Jogi unfolds plans

After more than two months of suspension from the party and several CBI raids at his residence, Jogi seemed a relieved man.

He had just returned from New Delhi with news that the AICC disciplinary committee had recommended his case. ‘‘If all goes well, Jogi’s reinstatement order will come very soon,’’ a die-hard supporter and former minister Manoj Mandavi said. At least two dozen Congress MLAs, former ministers and several Congress workers thronged his house on his return.

‘‘Yes, I do have some positive information about my case but I will not divulge anything till my party makes an announcement,’’ Jogi told reporters.

‘‘Didn’t I tell you this before? My leader Sonia Gandhi, who rules the hearts of millions, can never do injustice to the smallest of Congress workers, like me.’’

‘‘The people of this country have accepted Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi as new generation leaders who represent the Nehru-Gandhi family. Only one leader in a generation is accepted. So I don’t see Varun Gandhi being, in any manner, a competitor against Priyanka and Rahul. The duo represent Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi,’’ he said.

Jogi took no time to reveal his future plans. ‘‘I have already declared my desire to contest against V.C. Shukla who has recently formed the Rashtriya Jantantrik Dal. Also I can contest anywhere the party would like to field me. I am equally ready to do any other job for the party,’’ he said.

The former chief minister echoed PCC president Motilal Vora’s views that Shukla’s party or his alliance with the NDA would not make any difference to the Congress’ prospects in Chhattisgarh.

He, however, said 31, not 29 MLAs, had signed a representation in his favour asking the Congress president to reinstate him before the Lok Sabha elections. But this, he says, didn’t mean to convey their defiance to CLP leader Mohinder Karma. ‘‘It was a solidarity to my cause,’’ he said.

He began his campaign of sorts with a blistering attack on the BJP government. ‘‘This government promised everything — a cow to each Adivasi family, jobs for every family, unemployment allowance to the youths, land pattas to Adivasis and the poor and loan waivers to farmers. Today, in the Governor’s address there is no mention of any schemes promised,’’ he said.