Sai hitch in NCP-BJP pre-poll alliance

Anxious to avoid a split of the anti-Jogi vote in Chhattisgarh, the BJP is exploring the possibility of a tie-up with the Nationalist Congre...

Anxious to avoid a split of the anti-Jogi vote in Chhattisgarh, the BJP is exploring the possibility of a tie-up with the Nationalist Congress Party. One issue, however, stands in the way — the NCP which has fielded Hemwant Porte against Chief Minister Ajit Jogi from Marwahi wants the BJP’s senior tribal leader Nand Kumar Sai out of the fray.

V.C. Shukla insists that Sai pull out in favour of Porte, widow of veteran tribal leader Bhanwar Singh Porte. That apart, the two parties believe there is ample scope for a ‘‘tactical understanding’’ on a combined oust-Jogi agenda.

The main objective of the BJP-NCP understanding, senior leaders admit, is to avoid division of the anti-Jogi votes and ensure that the NCP does not damage the BJP’s chances, at least in some of its urban strongholds.

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State BJP president Raman Singh, who met Shukla late last night, said the party would not withdraw any of its 90 candidates. Yet, just an hour before Singh’s statement, union minister for mines Ramesh Bais went to the media, saying the BJP and NCP are likely to reach a ‘‘formal electoral understanding’’ before November 17, the last date for withdrawal of nominations.

Singh overruled Bais’ statement. ‘‘I am party president and I say it with responsibility that not even one candidate will be withdrawn from the contest. All we want is some kind of friendly tie-up and a common strategy to defeat the Congress. There is no scope for electoral adjustments after both the parties have declared their candidates.’’

Shukla also said there is no likelihood of an electoral tie-up as the BJP is not prepare to withdraw Sai from Marwahi. ‘‘But channels for talks are still open,’’ he said.

Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, however, has a different theory: ‘‘In Chhattisgarh, the third force has never been able to gain ground. If the NCP remains in the fray, it will benefit the Congress, not the Opposition.”

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	They solemnly Declare Affidavit for Nomination

	AJIT JOGI Constituency: Marwahi Educational qualification: BA(Engg), LLB MOVABLE ASSETS Cash: Rs 15,000 (Wife: Rs 25,000 Son: Rs 5,000) Deposits In Banks, FIs, Non-Banking Financial Cos: Rs 2,96,892 (Wife: Rs 19,99,451 Son: Rs 1,20,173) Shares, Debentures: Nil (Wife: Rs 20,000 UTI 64, Rs 25,000 NSC, Rs 30,000 IDBI) Motor Vehicles: Qualis Jewellery: Nil (WIFE: Rs 2,25,500) IMMOVABLE ASSETS Agricultural Land: 1/8 share of ancestral property at Pendra, Tehsil Gurella (Bilaspur) (Wife: 2.1 bighas at Mehroli village; value Rs 11 lakh) Non-Agricultural Land: 1/8 share at Pendra (Wife: 437.69 square metre plot at Ghaziabad (UP); value Rs 15 lakh Houses, Apartments: 1/8 share at Pendra (Wife: 8,000 square-feet two-bedroom house under construction at Rajiv Nagar, Raigarh; value Rs 7 lakh Son: Two-bedroom flat under construction at Sansad Vihar, Dwarkapuri, New Delhi; Value Rs 11 lakh) LIABILITIES AND DUES Loans: Nil Govt Dues: Nil Income Tax: Nil; Pan No AEUPJ 9678-K COURT CASES Story continues below this ad • Case under Section 420, 467, 468, 471 IPC registered by Chief Judicial Magistrate, Shahdol, on basis of a complaint alleging use of a forged tribal identity certificate to contest Lok Sabha polls from Shahdol. An application for dismissal of the case pending. • CBI case under Section 471 filed in the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Delhi, on October 7, 2003 alleging use of forged documents to tarnish the image of N.K. Padhi, special director, IB, and the Central Government. Compiled by ASHWANI SHARMA