Congress may need Ajit Yogi to win Chhattisgarh

One of the first challenges Rahul Gandhi will have to address as party president will be that of the ghar wapsi of former Congressmen. One of them is Ajit Jogi, who launched Chhattisgarh Janata Congress (J) in June last year. Recently, Jogi announced the names of 22 candidates the party will field in the coming Assembly elections. Out of the 90 seats, 25 are reserved for Scheduled Tribes. Jogi’s party might win under 10. But it has the capacity to damage 25. In a small state like Chhattisgarh where the BJP has been in power for several terms, led by CM Raman Singh, this could be catastrophic for the Congress, which can post a good showing if it is united. State Congress leaders are telling the central party this is one of the first decisions Rahul must take: Especially as Jogi, with son and MLA Amit by his side, has already started his campaign.

 
Sushil Kumar Modi has voiced his opinion on reservations; now it is BJP’s turn
 
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi has caused a flutter in the Bharatiya Janata Party by asserting that, while his personal view is that caste-based reservations must be extended to the private sector, as a party, the BJP is yet to take a view on it. He believes strongly that reservations must continue so long as there is social inequality. But it is also true since the struggle for Dalit empowerment was launched by B R Ambedkar, conditions have changed. And yet, the social inequality in society is so deep that Dalits still need a helping hand. The BJP has always been a votary of reservations in promotions. And the near absence of Dalits in the Rajya Sabha and the Vidhan Parishads across the country in India, testifies to the need for the policy of reservations to continue.