With defiant legislators openly rebelling against re-entry of V C Shukla, Chhattisgarh Congress infighting has come out in the open. Senior Congress MLA Nand Kumar Patel, a close confidant of former Chief Minister Ajit Jogi, has rushed to Delhi to make the party high command aware of Shukla’s recent statements against Jogi.

More party legislators, close to the Jogi, are also likely to join him to report the matter to the Central leadership.

Jogi supporters are irked by the recent remarks of the stalwart that he would work to stop the Congress party’s unwanted elements from coming to power if the party wins the Assembly polls.

Though Shukla made his intentions clear that he was not interested in state politics and would like to return to Centre, these have so far gone unheeded by the Jogi camp.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Patel confirmed that he was in Delhi and was scheduled to meet senior party leaders. He, however, added that he didn’t have anything to complain about anyone.

Dissident activities within the Chhattisgarh Congress have gained steam with three anti-Jogi factions, led by AICC treasurer Moti Lal Vora, PCC chief Charan Das Mahant and leader of Opposition in Assembly Mahendra Karma now rallying behind Shukla, while the Jogi camp is fighting for its survival.

“The recent huge welcome bestowed upon Shukla has demolished the myth that Jogi was the only crowd-puller and mass leader in Chhattisgarh,” said a senior Congress leader.

In the 90-member Assembly in Chhattisgarh, Congress has 35 legislators. Besides the leader of Opposition Mahendra Karma and deputy leader of Opposition Bhupesh Baghel, all other 33 legislators are believed to be Jogi loyalists.

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