Raman and Modi are different: Jogi

Raipur, Nov 8: Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi has ridiculed Chief Minister Raman Singh emulating his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi for seeking votes during assembly polls.

''There is a big difference between Dr Raman Singh and Narendra Modi. Mr Modi had inculcated a feeling of pride for Gujarat within his people. On the other hand, Dr Singh has no connection with Chhattisgarh pride,'' Mr Jogi said, while talking to UNI here last night.

Pointing out that strategy for one state cannot be successful in another, he said Chhattisgarh was not Gujarat and appealing for votes by Dr Singh in his name would not succeed here.

On facing Dr Singh again in electoral campaigning, Mr Jogi said public would get an opportunity to compare tenure of both governments.

Admitting that the Congress did not play role of effective opposition in the past five years, he said work would have become much easier the party would have raised issues of corruption and taking the state backward in a proper manner. However, more hard vigorous campaign was needed.

On BJP campaigners, including the Chief Minister, stating that Congress campaigners were dejected, he said, ''We are optimistic and have full confidence that change will occur.'' On dissatisfaction over ticket distribution and rebel candidates filing nominations, he said the Congress was a big party and suggestion from everybody was taken into account. However, ticket were distributed to candidates who can win seat.

Regarding the position of the Congress in tribal areas, he said the Congress was wiped out in tribal areas previous time but this time it was the turn of the BJP, which had sidelined tribal legislators, including claimants for the post of Chief Minister such as Nand Kumar Sai and Shiv Pratap Singh.

He said not a single minister involved in corruption was denied ticket.

On the silence of party when he was arrested during Rajnandgaon assembly by-poll, Mr Jogi said some state-level party leaders felt that it was his personal matter but people of Rajnandgaon understood the matter and voted for the Congress.

He said the party would have benefited if a political reply was given. However, he had no issues as long as he had the blessings of Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

UNI