Chhattisgarh Polls: The political temperature is high regarding the assembly elections in Chhattisgarh. The ruling Congress and the opposition BJP in the state are making every effort to win the elections. After becoming a state by separating from Madhya Pradesh in the year 2000, only two parties have played a strong role in Chhattisgarh. Apart from BJP and Congress, a third front emerged in the year 2016. The first CM of the state, Ajit Jogi formed Janata Congress Chhattisgarh. In the 2018 elections, the party entered the fray with full strength but failed to achieve any major milestone. After the demise of Ajit Jogi in the year 2020, the party’s support base and vote share is also slipping. In such a situation, both BJP and Congress are keeping an eye on this.
In the 2018 elections, the Janata Chhattisgarh Congress (Jogi) was led by the state’s first Chief Minister Ajit Jogi. Despite the election being triangular, Congress performed impressively and came to power with 68 out of 90 seats. JCC formed alliance with Bahujan Samaj Party and CPI for the assembly elections. The alliance contested all 90 seats, with JCC (J) contesting 55 seats and winning 5 seats and 7.6 percent of the votes. BSP got 3.8 percent and 2 seats and CPI contested two seats and got 0.3 percent votes. Almost five years after the formation of the party, patron Ajit Jogi has passed away. After his death, Jogi’s legacy was scattered. Many MLAs resigned. That seven per cent is now being eyed by both the Congress and the BJP, and could prove to be the difference in a close fight.
How Ajit Jogi’s party disintegrated
Two of the five JCC MLAs – Ajit Jogi himself and Devrat Singh – died. Whereas, Dharamjit Singh joined BJP in August 2023. Pramod Sharma was expelled from the party in July 2023. Now the only JCC MLA in Chhattisgarh is Ajit Jogi’s wife Renu Jogi. In September 2023, BSP has announced an alliance with Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP). In such a situation, Ajit Jogi’s party is isolated.
Who will benefit, BJP or Congress?
According to political experts, most of the politics of JCC(J) revolves around Ajit Jogi. The way the party has disintegrated after his death, it is possible that he may lose voteshare. Speculations are being made on which party will get the vote share which is slipping from Jogi’s party. Chhattisgarh-based political commentator Sudeep Srivastava said, “A large part of the Satnami (Dalit) and OBC votes may swing towards the Congress, given the upper caste votes in seats like this. In Lormi, BJP may take a stand due to change of upper caste candidates. JCC(J) may still have some tribal and Dalit votes.
The senior Congress leader, on condition of anonymity, commented, “There are many reasons for the decline of JCC(J). First, Ajit Jogi had the political skills and networks to keep the party afloat, and without them, it is lost. The JCC(J) has also been unable to generate a new vote base, and there has been barely any political activity on the ground for four years after the 2018 elections.”
Commenting on the condition of JCC and Amit Jogi’s leadership failure, BJP spokesperson Sachchidanand Upase said, “Ajit Jogi was charismatic and a very talented political strategist. After his demise, the party has lost touch with the people.” The BJP leader has claimed that the vote share of Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (Jogi) will go to BJP.”
Amit Jogi’s claim – vote share remains intact
Former MLA Amit Jogi, son of Ajit Jogi, who is leading the party, claimed that JCC(J)’s voteshare will remain intact and the party will play an important role. People are angry with both Congress and BJP because they have betrayed the people of the state. In the last 45 days, I have traveled to 45 constituencies and people are giving me the same love they used to give to my father. This is my strength.
Jogi said that in 2018 he fought on 55 seats and now he will fight on all 90 seats. “I am starting talks with other regional parties,” he said. Last time we announced the candidates three months before the elections but this time I will wait for the lists of BJP and Congress. The tribute to my late father will be to double the vote share.
BSP left us
BSP, which contested the elections in alliance in 2018, has now left JCC(J). BSP Chhattisgarh President Hemant Poyam said that his aim is to double his vote share also. He said, “Last time we fought on 33 seats and this time we are going to field candidates on 60 seats.” We will double our voteshare like 2008 and 2013, where we got 5 to 6 percent votes. Poyam said there is no possibility of an alliance with JCC(J) as of now.
Ticket contenders are in tension, so many MLAs can be found in the Congress list; When will it be announced?
Why did Ajit Jogi form his own party?
Bhupesh Baghel was the reason why Ajit Jogi, who was once closest to Congress and entered politics at the behest of Rajiv Gandhi, formed JCC. In 2016, Jogi had a heated argument with the then state Congress president and now Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. The party high command tried its best to understand both but Ajit Jogi formed a separate party.
