Jogi adamant over taking on Raman

Raipur, Oct 9 (UNI) Congress Working Committee Member and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Ajit Jogi today claimed that he was sticking to the challenge of directly contesting against Chief Minister Raman Singh in the year-end assembly polls, irrespective of the constituency.

''I have also sought permission from the Congress high command in this regard,'' he told journalists here last evening while adding that he had complete faith that the permission would be granted.

When asked about reports that he might contest the hustings from two seats, Mr Jogi said that -- as per the rules -- a candidate could contest from a maximum five places simultaneously.

Describing as baseless the reports that a tickets-linked battle royale was being waged among Congress leaders, he added that the atmosphere in the state was against the Bharatiya Janata Party regime.

UNI AS-AC 1800