Former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ajit Jogi has sought permission from party’s national president Sonia Gandhi to file a defamation case against party’s Chhattisgarh unit chief Bhupesh Baghel for damaging his public image.
During a Press conference held at his Raipur residence on Sunday, Jogi also spoke of writing a letter to Sonia Gandhi clarifying his stand on the ‘audio tape row’, which has created ripples in Chhattisgarh’s political circles.
"In the second letter to the party high command, I have informed her about the conspiracy against me in which party leaders from Chhattisgarh as well as few from Delhi are involved," Jogi said but denied to disclose the names of those leaders mentioned in the letter.
According to Jogi, State party chief Baghel on different occasions had labelled him as ‘trouble shooter’ for the incumbent regime which had damaged his image in public life, he said.
Jogi further informed an explanation had also been provided to Girish Dewangan, the State Congress general secretary in-charge, who had urged Jogi to furnish a reply following the publishing of a story on Antagarh by-poll by an English national daily.
He pointed out the Congress party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala had demanded a probe into the allegations by a sitting Judge.
Replying to a query whether he was happy with the candidature of Manturam Pawar, Jogi said, "I had told him (Pawar) not to contest the by-election as the ruling party would put all its strength to win the election."