Kota loss will not affect BJP govt: Agrawal

Bhopal, Dec 27 (UNI) Chhattisgarh Tourism, Culture and Forests Minister Brijmohan Agrawal today claimed the defeat in the recent Kota by-elections would not have an adverse impact on the state's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government.

''Former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi's wife was in the fray (as the Congress candidate) and Mr Jogi himself went about canvassing while confined to a wheelchair that created a sympathy wave'' he told journalists during a brief visit here.

Mr Agrawal claimed the public was reacting very positively to the vision with which the government, under state Chief Minister Raman Singh's leadership, was advancing with the sole agenda of development.

''The BJP will return to power in Chhattisgarh after the 2008 hustings,'' he added.

Responding to a question, Mr Agrawal said several schemes had been drafted for exploiting Chhattisgarh's immense tourism potential.

''Being a comparatively new state, Chhattisgarh is passing through the process of tourism infrastructure development,'' he pointed out.

UNI SD-AC MS KN1954