The Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) has expelled Amit Jogi, former chief minister Ajit Jogi’s son and Congress MLA from Marwahi, from the party for six years.
The Chhattisgarh PCC has requested the All India Congress Committee to suspend Ajit Jogi as well.
Sate Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel “condemned” the tape controversy and told reporters:
We have passed a resolution to condemn the entire Antagarh audio tape row. The act of Ajit Jogi has tarnished the image of party and therefore the state party unit has reached this conclusion after an elaborate discussion. Amit Jogi, Congress MLA from Marwahi constituency has been expelled from the primary membership of the party for six years.
Tapes of phone discussions purportedly between former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi’s MLA son Amit Jogi and current Chief Minister Raman Singh’s son-in-law Puneet Gupta revealed a possibility of bribery in the 2014 Assembly by-elections. The leaked tapes triggered a political crisis in Chhattisgarh and Delhi.
BJP chief Minister Raman Singh and both Jogis have rejected allegations of their involvement in the sordid episode.
In December, the transcripts of the conversation was published by The Indian Express.
Following his suspension, Amit Jogi addressed the media and said:
I’m hurt, the decision to expel me without proving the allegations against me is biased and unfair. The elites and the zamindars of Chattisgarh have won. I am not scared of this decision. I will continue to work as the strength of the poor and needy in Chattisgarh.
Amit Jogi also said, “ I will appeal to the party high command in Delhi against the decision (of expulsion) and I believe I will get justice from AICC President Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.”
Meanwhile, former Chattisgarh CM, Ajit Jogi has been hospitalised in Raipur.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)