Hyderabad: Ajit Pramod Kumar Jogi, the first chief minister of Chhattisgarh, was known in the political circles as someone who never gave up despite defeats, controversies and debilitating health issues. Jogi, 74, who died at a private hospital on Friday, was the quintessential politician who enjoyed support among tribal and scheduled caste communities because of his easy accessibility. His rise in politics was meteoric, and he became chief minister of the newly formed Chhattisgarh state in November 2000, trumping rivals such as Congress stalwart Vidyacharan Shukla. Jogi focused on improving health infrastructure in the tribal-dominated backward state and also laid the foundation stone of the new capital city near Abhanpur area of Raipur.
Jogi's status as the member of a tribal community had been the subject of controversy since he entered politics. After he became chief minister, BJP leader Sant Kumar Netam had complained to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes that his claim of belonging to a Scheduled Tribe was based on forged documents. Though sidelined in the state's politics, the four-time MLA never lost his sharp sense of humour, especially while targeting his opponents. His political legacy is now expected to be carried on by his son and JCC chief Amit Jogi.
Let's take a look at his remarkable three-decade political career.
1.EARLY LIFE OF AJIT JOGI
Born on April 29 in 1946 in Chhatisgarh's Raipur, Jogi completed his LLB from University of Delhi.
2.EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
He also pursued his B.E.(Mech) from Maulana Azad College of Technology.
During his graduation, he was elected as president, Maulana Azad College of Technology Students' Union
3.WORKED AS LECTURER
Jogi served as set a record of the longest-serving Collector for over 12 years in MP.
He also worked briefly as a lecturer (1967-68) at the Government Engineering College, Raipur (Chhattisgarh)
4. START OF POLITICAL CAREER
Jogi began his political career in 1986 when he became a member of AICC
5. VARIOUS POSITIONS HELD
In 1987, he was appointed as General-Secretary, Pradesh Congress Committee, Madhya Pradesh
Jogi was appointed as Chairman, Committee on Science and Technology, and Environment and Forests.
6.CONGRESS CHAPTER
In 1995, Jogi was appointed as Central Observer for Congress Party during Sikkim Assembly Elections.
He became a member of Core Group, A. I.C .C. Parliamentary Elections in 1996
7.CONGRESS CHAPTER 2
In 1997, he was appointed as Observer, Delhi AICC
In 1998, Jogi was elected to 12th Lok Sabha from Raigarh constituency
8.VIKAS YATRA
Ajit Jogi led a Vikas Yatra all over Chhattisgarh in 2003.
Jogi also led Jatra from Ma Danteswari Temple in Dantewada to Mahamaya Temple
9.FIRST CHHATTISGARH CM
Ajit Jogi was sworn-in as the first newly-formed state of Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh in 2000
In 2004, he was elected as MP in the 14th Lok Sabha for Mahasamund
10.NEW POLITICAL OUTFIT
In June 2016, Ajit Jogi founded a new political outfit Chhattisgarh Janata Congress.
In 2018, Ajit Jogi created a sensation in the elections with his newly formed party
11.INTERESTING FACTS
Author of books titled "The Role of District Collector", and "Administration of Peripheral Areas."
Gold Medalist in Mechanical Engineering
Loves reading, writing and has an interest in occult sciences
