Won't bring back those who left Cong in Chhattisgarh: Punia

Claiming that Congress was in a strong position in Chhattisgarh ahead of next year's Assembly elections, party general secretary P L Punia today said there was "no question of bringing back" those who had quit.
Punia, on his first visit to the state after being appointed as Congress' Chhattisgarh in-charge, was speaking to reporters here.
To a question about former chief minister Ajit Jogi, who quit Congress last year, he said, "There is no question of bringing back those who have left the party.
"I believe that we will strengthen the Congress with those who are in the party with commitment, and form the next government," he said.

"Congress is in a strong position in Chhattisgarh which is evident by its performance in the last Assembly elections. The party lost, but margin of defeat was very small. The difference between vote percentages (of BJP and Congress) was about 0.7 per cent," he said.
"The top leadership of the state has pledged to work day and night to ensure victory in the next Assembly election. I am fully confident that party will form the government here," he said.

Asked whether the Congress will focus on any particular community in the state, he said it would be contrary to the party's policy of taking along all sections.

As to BJP president Amit Shah's exhortation to his party workers to win at least 65 out of 90 seats in Chhattisgarh Assembly, Punia said it was arrogance.
"Shah thinks as if he will select (65 winning candidates) sitting at his home and then drop them here. It's people who decide (who wins)....Shah is talking about 65 seats but there are 90 seats in Chhattisgarh. So he should also disclose which 25 seats he would be losing," the Congress leader said.
Congress has suffered three consecutive defeats in Chhattisgarh Assembly elections since 2003.