Interview: Time for voters to work for Jogi

With dad Ajit Jogi announcing not to visit his home constituency Marwahi for campaigning, the onus has fallen on Chhattisgarh chief minister's 24-year-old son Amit Jogi who along with mom Dr. Renu Jogi is holding the fort from their recently renovated ancestral home Pendra. Both deny they are campaigning.

Jogi junior, a second year law student at Delhi University, also denies that he has any political ambitions but he has all the trappings of a politician in the making. And like his father, controversy chases him too. He defends himself and talks about his father's prospects in an interview with Gulf News. Excerpts:

GULF NEWS: You have been around here for sometime. How do you rate chances of your father retaining the Marwahi seat?

AMIT JOGI: I don't foresee any problem. My father has categorically stated that he will campaign in all constituencies other than Marwahi. Marwahi is one place where he does not do any politics. Everybody here is part of our family. I don't see any reason why he or we should be campaigning. He worked very hard while representing them. Now it is time for them (voters) to work hard and see to it that he is through.

What role are you playing if not campaigning?
I am here basically to see that everything goes on smoothly. My father has told the people here that everybody here in this constituency is Ajit Jogi. They should think themselves as Ajit Jogi and work for them. I am basically dong the desk job.

Is this election your baptism into politics? Do you have any political ambitions?
No. No I have seen politics from such a close quarter that I have absolutely no inclination and taste for it.

Are you aware that you have become an election issue in the state?
Me? How??

The other day central minister Ramesh Bais demanded your arrest for committing a forgery by taking Indian civil services examination last year despite being an American citizen.
He says many things. Union Public Service Commission is a very transparent body. He can verify the record. I had written to the commission and sought their permission. No body can choose his or her place of birth. I was born in America. Am I to be held responsible for this? But I have come to a decision, not because of patriotic reasons but due to personal reasons - my sister dies and I am now the only child in the family. I had not option but to surrender my US citizenship and apply for the Indian citizenship, which has been granted to me. I am waiting for the renunciation certificate from the State department, which will take some time since the Americans are concerned when somebody renounces their citizenship.

You are also referred to as the Junior Chief Minister. What kind of role do you play in administration?
I play no role. If any one has any proof that I play any role in administration then there are public redressal systems. I have no time, I cannot keep up with my course. I am finding it very difficult to cover my law syllabus.

Why controversy keeps chasing your father?
I keep asking the same question to my father. I am as puzzled. I think the reasons for this are less political and more social. Some people cannot tolerate that a tribal has risen to become the chief minister. My father is today what he is on merit. He used to walk eight miles to attend primary school. He got his first pair of footwear when he was 18.

Coming to Marwahi, will it be a close contest since it's a triangular contest now and BJP has put up a formidable candidate in Nand Kumar Sai, Leader of Opposition in the state?
Mr. Sai has shifted here due to his own reasons. He would not have won his seat and has shifted here to become a martyr. My father is not here, we are not campaigning. This must show some kind of confidence we have. Whether this is justified or not, results will tell.