Putting all the speculations to rest, daughter-in-law of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (Jogi ) (JCC) (J) Supremo Ajit Jogi , Richa Jogi has been declared as candidate of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for the Assembly polls in the State slated next month.
She will be in fray from Akaltara Assembly constituency.
BSP’s sitting MLA Keshav Prasad Chandra has been retained from Jaijaipur seat.
In the second list released by BSP for the second phase of poll,s around 12 candidates have been announced. As per the list, State BSP President Omprakash Bachpayi would be in fray from Navagarh, Shyam Tandon from Bhilaigarh, Rameshwar Kaiwarth (Nishad) from Kasdol, Arvind Khatkar will be in fray from Sarangarh, Geetanjali Patel from Chandrapur, Kanhaiya Lal Sahu from Kurud, Bhojran Gaurkhede from Raipur (West), Chaitram Raj from Pandariya, Chabilal Ratre from Saraipali and Deenanath Prasad from Bhilai Nagar assembly constituency.
Reacting on his wife being declared as BSP candidate, Marwahi MLA Amit Jogi remarked, “BSP-JCC (J) are ‘two parties’ but having ‘one heart.’
“ Richa represents symbol of unity of both parties. Both parties showcase relationship of sister-brother, having similar ideology and will use its massive base for forming government in the state after the polls,” Amit Jogi said.
He further added, “Polls are fought to win. In some places, the foothold of elephant (BSP symbol) is strong while impact of plough (JCC) (J) symbol is strong in few others.
“Based on it the strategy devised, the need of hour is that mass voter base should not get split. The decision has been welcomed by Akaltara residents,” he said.
Notably, Richa Jogi after marriage with Marwahi MLA Amit Jogi has not been in active politics; but after formation of JCC (J) she became an active member and participant of contact programmes and public meetings of the party.
She was also nominated as In-charge of Rajnandgaon assembly constituency after Ajit Jogi had earlier declared to contest against Chief Minister Raman Singh .
But after alliance with BSP and JCC (J) came into existence, Communist Party of India (CPI) also joined the alliance at a later stage.
Ajit Jogi was being declared as the Chief Minister candidate for the alliance but with political developments taking place in the alliance, a different political scenario is emerging.
As per developments, Richa Jogi and Geetanjali Patel joined the BSP on late on Friday night. Geetanjali Patel was earlier declared as JCC (J) candidate from Chandrapur.
The Chandrapur assembly constituency after alliance was to go to BSP candidate for contesting but now as per announcement, Geetanjali has been retained in fray from Chandrapur itself but on BSP ticket.
Meanwhile, JCC (J) Supremo Ajit Jogi has also withdrawn himself from the poll fray while announcing that he would now fully concentrate on election campaign in the 90 seats for the alliance.
