(Incorporates 'Jogi-Party' and 'Kamat' series

Still smarting from debacles in assembly polls in four states, Congress today received a setback with two CWC members--Ajit Jogi and Gurudas Kamat-- quitting the party.
While Jogi, a former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, formally announced he would launch a new political outfit, Kamat said he was quitting politics altogether.
Jogi, who had been sulking for quite some time following the expulsion of his son Amit after some audio tapes purportedly indicated his involvement in fixing a bypoll in Chhattisgarh in favour of BJP, announced he would launch a party which would taken on the BJP government in the state. He had accused the state Congress of working as the 'B Team' of BJP.

The state unit of Congress had also recommended termination of Ajit Jogi's membership as action against a member of the Congress Working Committee, the party's apex body, could be taken by the party high command alone. The Congress' central leadership, however, had chosen to adopt a wait and watch policy with regard to Jogi Sr.
"I am independent now...I have the blessings of people and well wishers..," Jogi told a gathering of about 10,000 people at Kotmi village in his son's Marwahi constituency where he released the 'Kotmi Declaration'.
"The day marks the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Chhattisgarh from Kotmi village. Now people of Chhattisgarh will write their destiny themselves. Now, the decisions of Chhattisgarh will be taken in Chhattisgarh only.

"With the blessings of people of Marwahi and well wishers, it has been decided to form a new party. The new party will be Chhattisgarh's own party," the declaration said.

Jogi said the new party's name and symbol will be decided after public consultations.
Those present were given a form seeking their views on the proposed party's name and election symbol.
The options mentioned were: Chhattisgarh ikas Congress, Chhattisgarh Lok Party, Chhattisgarh Vikas Party, Chhattisgarh Congress, Chhattisgarh Jan Congress, Chhattisgarh Swaraj Party, Chhattisgarh Rashtriya Samiti and Chhattisgarh Apna Dal.
Jogi was accompanied by his wife Renu, Congress MLA from Kota, son Amit, Gundardehi MLA Rajendra Kumar Rai, Bilha MLA Siyaram Kaushik and former legislators Vidhan Mishra and Dharamjeet Singh.

Many of his supporters were spotted wearing white Gandhi caps with slogans like "I am Jogi" and "Jai Jogi" emblazoned on them. They carried posters with slogans like "Abki Baar, Jogi Sarkar".
Kamat's exit, however, lacked any fanfare. The 61-year-old former Union Minister issued a statement to the media in Mumbai this evening which said,"Dear friends, over the last more than 44 years I have worked with most of you and served the Congress. For several months now I have felt I need to take a backseat to enable others to get the opportunity.