Congress issues notice to Amit Jogi, seeks Raman Singh's resignation

The Congress on Wednesday issued notice to Amit Jogi, son of party leader Ajit Jogi, over reported purported conversations that suggested that financial inducement was offered to the party candidate to make him withdraw from the fray in the bypoll to Anantgarh assembly seat in 2014.

The party also demanded resignation of Chief Minister Raman Singh and a probe into the issue by a Supreme Court judge.

Party sources said the Chhattisgarh state Congress issued notice to Amit Jogi.

With Ajit Jogi's name also being mentioned in relation to some conversations, the party also sought a report from the state Congress on the issue.

"The state Congress will give its report and then further course will be decided," a party leader told IANS.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said a sitting judge of the Supreme Court should look into the issue and if there is involvement of party leaders that should also be probed.

"Till the probe is completed by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court, it will be unfair for Raman Singh to continue as chief minister. He must resign from his post for a fair and transparent probe," Surjewala said.

The Indian Express daily on Wednesday ran a story on audio tapes that suggested financial inducements could have been offered to Congress candidate Manturam Pawar who withdrew close to the date of the bypoll. He joined the BJP in March this year.

Surjewala said that soon after the party candidate withdrew, they had moved the Election Commission seeking deferment of the bypoll. He said the party had also alleged then that the chief minister had offered allurements to the party candidate.

Pawar has said no one had pressurised him to withdraw. Both Amit Jogi and Ajit Jogi have denied talking to anyone regarding the bypoll.

Raman Singh said Pawar himself has stated that he withdrew on his own and there was no pressure on him.