Raipur: Congress has issued a show-cause notice to its leader Amit Jogi after allegations of horse trading in the Antagarh (ST) bypoll in September 2014 in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh which was won by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Senior Congress Ajit Jogi, his son Amit and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh's son-in-law Puneet Gupta allegedly tried to strike a deal to induce Manturam Pawar, the Congress candidate to withdraw from the race.
CNN-IBN cannot independently confirm the veracity of the audio tapes n which the three leaders are purportedly heard talking about the deal. But Congress leaders say the report confirms their suspicion about a sabotage. The party has also launched protest against Raman Singh.
Amit Jogi has to reply to the notice by January 8. The party has also sought a report from its Chhattisgarh unit. The report will cover Ajit Jogi's role as well. Congress President Sonia Gandhi will take a call on further action after receiving the report from state unit. The party may also approach the Election Commission.
BJP candidate Bhojraj Nag had bagged the Antagarh Assembly by-election by defeating Ambedkarite Party of India's Rupadhar Pudo by a margin of 51,383 votes.
The Naxal-hit constituency in Kanker district saw a direct fight between Nag and Pudo. Congress candidate Manturam Pawar had withdrawn from the contest at the last minute, leaving the main Opposition party red faced.
Fourteen candidates had filed their nominations but after scrutiny and withdrawal only two - Nag and Pudo - were left in the fray. Congress, struggling after facing a humiliating defeat in both Assembly and Lok Sabha elections in 2014 April-May, had fielded Pawar from Antagarh. After Pawar pulled out of the race, he was expelled from Congress.
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