The first chief minister of Chhattisgarh, Ajit Jogi, who is expected to play a key role if the Assembly polls throw up a hung verdict, avoided discussing his options but dropped hints of his softness for the Nehru-Gandhis in an interview with The Telegraph.
The rebel who quit the Congress to form the Janta Congress Chhattisgarh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had failed to deliver but refused to assess Rahul Gandhi, saying he would not comment on a family that has given him a lot. Excerpts:
Q: There’s a fear that Chhattisgarh may see a fractured mandate. In that case, who would you choose to align with, the BJP or the Congress?
A: That’s not only a hypothetical question, that’s an impossibility. The JCC’s alliance with Mayawatiji’s BSP and the CPI will get majority. I have no doubt about that.
Q: That’s your assessment, but is there any possibility of your going with the BJP in a hung Assembly?
A: Why should I debate a situation that is out of the political realm? The Raman Singh government is facing such strong anti-incumbency that it will be knocked out. Our alliance is forming the next government.
Q: Are you ruling out any understanding with the BJP?
A: I am ruling out a situation in which the BJP will be in the game for government formation. People are extremely angry; there is no chance of farmers and the poor voting for them again. And women — they feel very unsafe.
Q: Will the Congress be in the reckoning?
A: The Congress is finished in Chhattisgarh. There is no leader, no face. Their present president was involved in the fake CD distribution racket. They have no credibility here.
Q: But you recently said, ‘I will not attack Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi’. Do you want to keep a line open with them?
A: When we parted company, I made a promise to myself that I shall never talk against the Nehru-Gandhi family. There is an association of 30 years. They made me the chief minister when Chhattisgarh was formed. Recently when I fell sick — I was very seriously ill — Sonia Gandhi called my wife to enquire about my health. They are very nice to us at the personal level.
Q: That’s why the question arises: Can you go back to the Congress? Can you form a coalition government with the Congress?
A: I want to keep only personal relations with them.
Q: Isn’t it true that your wife, Renu Jogi, desperately sought a Congress ticket even this time to contest the Assembly election?
A: It is true. She had not left the Congress when my son and I left. I told her, ‘The Congress will not give you a ticket’. But she was very hopeful as she was the sitting Congress MLA. I’m happy she has now agreed to contest the same seat on our ticket.
Q: You are contesting the Marwahi seat. What about your son Amit?
A: He will campaign, manage the election.
Q: You said there is a strong anti-incumbency. Does that mean the Congress bungled by ill-treating you? Would this have otherwise been an easy victory for the Congress?
A: Yes, it did. This time the Congress would have easily won the state.
Q: Rahul’s mistake?
A: Won’t comment on that.
Q: But generally, how do you see Rahul as a leader?
A: Told you I won’t talk about the family.
Q: Do you agree with the general perception that Rahul has evolved as a leader? Has he learnt from his mistakes?
A: That is for the people to see and decide.
Q: What is your assessment of Narendra Modi’s leadership?
A: People had high expectations from Modi but he failed to deliver. The country expected a great deal from him. He disappointed the people. I can see his popularity coming down drastically.
Q: Two issues agitating the people’s minds today are the Rafale deal and the mess in the CBI. How did the Prime Minister handle these issues?
A: Both are very serious issues. The Prime Minister mishandled the crises. No government should run away from an inquiry on an issue like Rafale as there are many valid questions. On the CBI, the government failed the nation.
Q: Can that be a meeting ground for you and the Congress in future, particularly in the scenario of a hung Assembly?
A: Again, a hypothetical question.
