Cong leader

The Congress is seeking to end the uninterrupted 15-year rule of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Uike was a BJP MLA from the Marwahi seat in 2003, when he joined the Congress and resigned his seat to make way for Jogi, the first chief minister of the state. Jogi left the Congress in 2016 to start his own party, the Janata Congress.

“Congress has neglected the interest of tribals, backward and poor people. Chief Minister Raman Singh has been making efforts for development of tribals and backward people and his development policies have impressed me and I am rejoining the home party,” Uike said, describing his move as “gharwapsi” (homecoming).

Congress spokesperson Sailesh Nitin Trivedi said Uike’s joining the BJP was no loss for the party which, he added, has may other prominent tribal leaders. “Till yesterday, he was very active in the Congress which suggests that a conspiracy took place last night,” he said.

“Uike came back to us because of the infighting within the Congress. The party is apathetic towards the tribals and their leaders and hence tribal leaders are not happy in Congress,” Sachhinand Upasane, BJP spokesperson said.

Polls in Chhattisgarh will take place in two phases; the 18 assembly seats in the Maoist affected Bastar region will go to polls on November 12 and the remaining 72 on November 20. The counting of votes will take place on December 7 together with Rajasthan, Madhya Pra-

Uike came back to us because of the infighting within the Congress. The party is apathetic towards the tribals and their leaders and hence tribal leaders are not happy in Congress