ET BureauAjit Jogi has been in a wheelchair since he met with a car accident 10 years ago. Since the last year Chhattisgarh’s first chief minister has been on a comeback trail ever since Maoist militants wiped out Congress’ top leadership in a fatal attack in Bastar. Excerpts from an interview:
On whether the accident set his political career back
It has not affected me at all. I am attending 10 to 11 meetings every day. I am ready to go anywhere. I am okay. Only thing is that I need to do physiotherapy for half an hour every morning. After polling in Mahasamund gets over, I will address rallies, maybe in Bihar and UP. The party will decide the locations.
On BJP being the favourite in Chhattisgarh
Ahead of Chhattisgarh assembly elections, Modi addressed a rally in Bastar. What happened? The BJP lost in all those seats. He addressed a rally in another tribal area, Sarguja. A stage resembling the Red Fort was built for Modi to address.
What happened? BJP lost there.
Yes we lost the assembly election, but what was the margin? The difference was less than 1%. We fought very well in the Naxal belt. We could not form the government because 27 of our sitting MLAs lost the elections.
On the Modi wave in the state
You go to Bastar and show Modi’s photo. Nine out of 10 won’t be able to recognize him. But they will recognize Soniaji and Rahulji.
On the need to back 10 Chandu Sahus against the BJP opponent, as BJP alleges
This is all rubbish. Why should I back these Chandu Sahus? If someone wants to vote for BJP, he will see the symbol and vote. Someone must have played a game to defame me.
On whether the confusion will benefit him
I don’t know any one of them [Chandus]. If they stand before me, I won’t be able to recognize them. But don’t forget Chandu Sahu is a very common name in Chhattisgarh. In every village, you will find one.
On whether the accident set his political career back
It has not affected me at all. I am attending 10 to 11 meetings every day. I am ready to go anywhere. I am okay. Only thing is that I need to do physiotherapy for half an hour every morning. After polling in Mahasamund gets over, I will address rallies, maybe in Bihar and UP. The party will decide the locations.
On BJP being the favourite in Chhattisgarh
Ahead of Chhattisgarh assembly elections, Modi addressed a rally in Bastar. What happened? The BJP lost in all those seats. He addressed a rally in another tribal area, Sarguja. A stage resembling the Red Fort was built for Modi to address.
What happened? BJP lost there.
Yes we lost the assembly election, but what was the margin? The difference was less than 1%. We fought very well in the Naxal belt. We could not form the government because 27 of our sitting MLAs lost the elections.
On the Modi wave in the state
You go to Bastar and show Modi’s photo. Nine out of 10 won’t be able to recognize him. But they will recognize Soniaji and Rahulji.
On the need to back 10 Chandu Sahus against the BJP opponent, as BJP alleges
This is all rubbish. Why should I back these Chandu Sahus? If someone wants to vote for BJP, he will see the symbol and vote. Someone must have played a game to defame me.
On whether the confusion will benefit him
I don’t know any one of them [Chandus]. If they stand before me, I won’t be able to recognize them. But don’t forget Chandu Sahu is a very common name in Chhattisgarh. In every village, you will find one.
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