Amit Jogi expelled for six years by Congress

Congress party today expelled its Chhattisgarh legislator Amit Jogi days after an audio tape allegedly showed he was involved in fixing an assembly by-election in the state.

Chattigharh Congress had served a show-cause notice on Amit Jogi but the leader had claimed the support of seven Congress legislators and challenged the party to take action against him. While Amit was completely sacked from the party, his father Ajit, was only suspended by the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC), as the AICC is still reviewing the allegations against him. On December 30, the newspaper published purported conversations of Jogi and Amit with BJP chief minister Raman Singh’s son-in-law Puneet Gupta that detail alleged efforts at ensuring Pawar’s withdrawal.

Manturam Pawar, then considered an Ajit Jogi loyalist, had withdrawn from the fray just a day ahead of the deadline and was later expelled from the party.

“I’m hurt, the decision to expel me without proving the allegations against me, is biased and unfair”. He denied commenting if the state Congress action was out of pre-judice of certain leaders and added that he is still bound with the party discipline and would not make public statements on state party leadership.

The decision was taken in a closed door meeting of State Congress office-bearers and district party presidents. The resolution has been forwarded to Congress president Sonia Gandhi. PCC chief Bhupesh Baghel and CLP leader T K Singh Deo will be in Delhi on Thursday to meet the high command. “The audio tape is fake and doctored”.

Amit said he would appeal to the party high command against the expulsion. Sources said, action against Ajit is yet to be decided by the UPA Chairperson.