One more BJP feather in Jogi cap: MP Khunte

Living upto his reputation of being a mastermind in engineering political defections, Chief Minister Ajit Jogi today walked away with sittin...

Living upto his reputation of being a mastermind in engineering political defections, Chief Minister Ajit Jogi today walked away with sitting BJP MP and Dalit leader P.R. Khunte.

Khunte, who represents the Sarangarh Lok Sabha seat (SC), was a member of several BJP panels involved in the selection of party candidates and chalking out campaign strategies.

	Khunte comes full circle

			RAIPUR: It was only a few months ago that Ajit Jogi, while recalling his days as Collector of Raipur, had referred to his role behind Khunte’s entry into politics. ‘‘Poor fellow (Khunte) would have remained a police constable had I not performed my duty. I had recommended disciplinary action against him. Apparently, he later left the police job,’’ Jogi claimed. Sources say Khunte was posted in Raipur from 1978-81. (ENS)

Earlier, Jogi had poached on 13 BJP MLAs — three of them he had inducted as Cabinet ministers. One of them, tribal MLA Ram Dayal Uieke, who vacated the Marwahi seat for Jogi, was made a minister of state.

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Three months ago, Jogi had caused a major embarrassment to the BJP when he won over Priyam Paikra, daughter of BJP Legislature Party leader Nand Kumar Sai, while the national executive meeting was going on here. Paikra is a strong contender for a Congress ticket against her father.

After today’s defection, BJP state president Raman Singh accused Jogi of ‘‘continuing with (his) dirty politics of buying sitting Assembly and Lok Sabha members’’.

Giving a possible reason behind the defection, Singh said: ‘‘Khunte has fallen into Jogi’s trap since he was under pressure after the registration of a criminal case, involving his personal security guard.’’ Singh said he has approached BJP president Venkaiah Naidu for initiating disciplinary action against Khunte.

Jogi, on the other hand, dismissed the BJP charges and termed Khunte’s entry into the Congress as a ‘‘historical political event’’. Khunte denied being upset over the ticket distribution. ‘‘The BJP neither has a leader nor issues for the upcoming elections. It was purposeless to stay in the party. In fact, no political party in Chhattisgarh has the leadership and vision to match that of Jogi. Thus, I have decided to strengthen Jogi’s hands,’’ Khunte said.

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Khunte said he will not resign from the membership of Parliament and would work to ensure the victory of the Congress in eight Assembly segments that fall within his Lok Sabha seat.