Several leaders and supporters from other constituencies have been campaigning for former chief minister Ajit Jogi in his constituency defying the direction of Chhattisgarh Congress in-charge BK Hariprasad to leaders to work in their own respective regions, sources said on Thursday.
Hariprasad had recently directed party men and leaders to restrict their campaign in their respective constituencies. But defying his direction, several leaders including some former legislators have been seen campaigning in Mahasamund constituency leaving their own area. Former legislator of lormi Dharamjeet Singh has left his area and has been seen campaigning in Mahasamund area. Similarly, former legislator Shiv Daharia who represented Bilaigarh in the state assembly has been active in Saraipali area.
Daharia is the party in-charge for Bilaspur lok Sabha seat. Sources said he is not showing any interest in Janjgir-Champa lok Sabha constituency.
Not only the senior leaders, even office-bearers of the Youth Congress and the NSUI are also busy in electioneering in Mahasamund. Amit Jogi, the son of former chief minister Ajit Jogi, who is a sitting legislator from Marwahi, is believed to have taken the lead of the campaigning. However, sources said he has taken permission from Korba candidate Charan Das Mahant. But there are several leaders who have been campaigning outside of their constituency.
Sources said candidates have been facing difficulties in several places due to non-cooperation of the local party leaders. The campaigning has yet to pick up in places like Rajnandgaon, Bilaspur and Korba due to absence of several local leaders.
Sources said senior leaders of the localities have reportedly sent their grievances to the state in-charge of the party.
On the other hand, the leaders who have been campaigning out of their constituencies said they will return to their respective areas after the end of the campaign on April 17 in Kanker and Rajnandgaon.