The people of Marwahi have proved that it was not the "fort" of former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi but of the Congress and it was due to him that others did not get a chance to contest from Marwahi, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said on Wednesday.
He was addressing an event held at the Congress headquarters to welcome the 70th MLA of the party, Dr K.K. Dhruw, who was on Tuesday declared elected from Marwahi, defeating the BJP.
Baghel said Dr. Dhruw got over 83,000 votes which no member of the Jogi family had ever secured. The alliance of the BJP and Jogi Congress had been hidden for the last 15 years but it became known for the first time.
Patting Congress leaders, workers and frontal organizations, the Chief Minister said the hard work paid off.
The long pending demand for formation of the district was met, successful implementation of policies and flagship programmes, beneficiaries deriving benefit from welfare schemes along with proper functioning of the Congress led to the victory, he added.
The BJP lead was limited in just 44 polling booths. It is the simplicity and kind-hearted personality of Dr Dhruw that expelled the notion that he was an "outsider" while the so-called "insider" (BJP’s Dr Gambheer Singh) was rejected by the people, said Baghel.
Marwahi in-charge Minister Jaisingh Agrawal said the 18 years of neglect of Marwahi prepared the ground for Congress victory. Dr Dhruw thanked the people of Marwahi and party leaders for their cooperation which he said ensured his victory.