NEW DELHI: The Congress strategists are leaving no stone unturned to meet the target of winning 60 of the 72 Assembly seats that will go to polls in the phase 2 balloting in Chhattisgarh on November 20.
While the party managers hope to benefit from three-term anti-incumbency of the Raman Singh government, they are facing two main challenges — the BJP’s money power, and a possible cut of votes by the combine of Ajit Jogi’s Janata Congress Chhattisgarh and Mayawati’s BSP.
Party insiders said Jogi’s influence over the Satnami community in around 10 seats coupled with BSP’s scattered support base has to be countered with all the might.
On Tuesday, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi discussed poll strategy with senior leaders. He has also met members of the Satnami community to win them over. The state unit too is making efforts to convince Jogi’s supporters.
Interestingly, Rahul had launched his party’s campaign on May 17 from Pendra, Jogi’s stronghold. He had then played up on plight of farmers, and tribals.
Jogi, a former Congress chief minister and someone who was considered a rebel, had cost the party dear in the 2013 Assembly polls. The main opposition party was able to turn the tables on the BJP in tribal-dominated Bastar, but lost 10 crucial seats elsewhere. Interestingly, the vote share difference between the BJP and the Congress in 2013 was just 0.7 per cent.
This time, Jogi has made no bones about chief ministerial ambitions, and is willing to support ‘BSP chief Mayawati for 2019 PM’ line.