The Asian Age

Jogi- Maya pact to decide fate of Cong, BJP

- RABINDRA NATH CHOUDHURY

The Ajit Jogi- Mayawati alliance is billed to hold the key to the formation of next government in Chhattisga­rh, even as the high voltage campaign for the crucial and final phase assembly polls in the state came to an end on Sunday evening.

Seventy two assembly constituen­cies are going to polls in the second and final phase assembly elections in Chhattisga­rh on November 20.

“Majority of constituen­cies which are going to polls in the second and final phase in Chhattisga­rh are tipped to witness triangular contests among the ruling BJP, Opposition Congress and the newly formed alliance of Janata Congress Chhattisga­rh ( JCC) of Mr Jogi and Bahujan Samaj Party ( BSP) of Mayawati.

“Since the alliance has made debut in this polls, we are clueless as to if it will cut into votes of BJP or Congress, making the poll outcome in these seats unpredicta­ble. The alliance may also end up as a double ended weapon cutting votes of both the parties in these constituen­cies leading them to cliff hanger situations,” Raipur- based pollster P. Mishra told this newspaper on Sunday.

The first phase assembly elections in Chhattisgr­h held on November 12 had witnessed virtually one- toone contests between BJP and Congress candidates. The alliance has virtually no sway in these constituen­cies.

Two major communitie­s, Satnamis and Sahus, may play crucial role in deciding fates of candidates in majority of constituen­cies which are going to polls in the second phase assembly elections.

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