Chhattisgarh Polls: Will Kingmaker Jogi Tilt For Raman or Rahul?

As BJP-Congress fight for power in upcoming Chhattisgarh elections, Jogi-Mayawati alliance plays kingmaker’s role.

Who would come to power this Chhattisgarh election?

(Photo: The Quint)

Video Editor: Vishal Bhardwaj

It will be Chhattisgarh’s fourth Assembly elections starting Monday, 12 November. The state polling, that will happen in two phases, has always had the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress as key rivals, although another contender might steal the show this year.

After the state was carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000, Congress formed first government under Ajit Jogi by default as the party had more number of MLAs in the carved out area.

In 2003, Raman Singh became the chief minister after the BJP came in power with 50 seats against Congress’ 37.

Between the long power struggle between the two rivals, a third alliance plays the kingmaker’s role this time.

Kingmaker More Crucial Than The King?

After Ajit Jogi quit the party in 2016 to form his own party, the Janata Congress Chhattisgarh, and later joined hands with Mayawati, the alliance may become the deciding factor in the elections.

In 2013, with Jogi’s face, Congress was able to secure 18 seats out of 29 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes.

Out of the 10 seats reserved for the Scheduled Caste, the BJP won five in 2008, but after Mayawati’s alliance with Jogi, the party might lose on the numbers this time.

The possibility of Jogi-Mayawati alliance securing enough number of seats to form government is low, but it definitely plays a major role in deciding who does by lending its support.