Ajit Jogi, the first chief minister of Chhattisgarh, passed away on Friday at the age of 74. His son Amit Jogi made the announcement on Twitter.
“Not only me but Chhattisgarh has lost his father. His funeral will take place tomorrow at his native land Gorela,” he said.
Mr. Jogi lost power in the 2003 Assembly elections but continued to be one of the tallest leaders of the Congress party until he and his son got embroiled in a controversy over a leaked audio tape towards the end of 2015. The Congress party expelled Amit Jogi — known to be a power centre during Mr. Jogi’s chief ministership — for six years and recommended action against the former chief minister after allegations that they “had forced” Manturam Pawar to withdraw his nomination as the Congress party’s official candidate in a bye-election.
The Jogis denied the charge and formally quit the Congress in 2016 and floated a regional outfit, the Janata Congress Chhattisgarh.
Condolences have poured in across political spectrum over Ajit Jogi’s death. “Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of veteran leader & former Chhattisgarh CM #AjitJogi. My thoughts & prayers are with the bereaved family,” Naveen Patnaik, Odisha chief minister wrote on Twitter.
“Shri Ajit Jogi was a visionary mass leader. Coming from a humble background, he had an inspiring journey:from serving in IPS to IAS, being elected as MP to both houses & becoming the first CM of Chhattisgarh. My Deepest condolence to @amitjogi and his family. Om Shanti,” senior Congress leader Naveen Jindal posted on Twitter.
