After getting 14 per cent vote share in the recently held assembly elections in the State, the Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (JCC) (J) has emerged as a third force here. It happened for the first time in the history of Chhattisgarh that the Election Commission of India had recognised any regional party only because of the high vote share, said party Supremo Ajit Jogi on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference at his residence Sagaun Bungalow, Jogi said his party secured more vote share than two main political parties in two of the Lok Sabha constituencies namely Bilaspur and Janjgir. As a result the party is expecting to win in at least two seats in upcoming general elections, he said.
Commenting on poor performance of Bharatiya Janata Party in the recent polls, Jogi said if the competition between the two main political parties were neck to neck as it were in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, then their party JCC (J) might have played an important role in government formation. Asserting that the name of JCC (J) is having ‘Congress’ word in it, there was confusion and finding Congress a better alternative to throw out BJP, the people of the the State voted in favour of them (Congress party).
He further said that his party is going to rethink about changing the name JCC (J) in near future.
Jogi further criticized Congress party for not giving adequate importance to tribal leaders of their party even though they played an important role in formation of Government by ascertaining victory in 25 of the assembly seats reserved for the tribals.
During oath taking ceremony, the Congress party displayed collective leadership, but tribal leaders were absent in it and none from them had been administered the oath along with the three who took the oath, he said.