Noted saint Pawan Diwan likely to join BJP

The withdrawal of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi's suspension and making him Congress candidate from Mahasamund has taken its affect in the state after two-time MP from Mahasamund and noted saint Pawan Diwan is set to join the ruling BJP alleging Congress for hurting his sentiments.

Diwan today met Chief Minister Raman Singh and conveyed his anguish for declining him a ticket despite instructing him to start campaign in Mahasamund seat before nominating Jogi after withdrawing his suspension.

Earlier, Diwan, who was a minister in Madhya Pradesh cabinet in 1977 and then joined Congress and became MP twice in 1991 and 1996 before losing to BJP's Chandrashekhar Sahu in 1998, refused to meet Jogi when he went to his ashram at Rajim.

Sources in Congress said the Saint was emotionally hurt that he had been cheated twice in four months as earlier he was denied a ticket for December 1 Assembly polls and now was asked by the CPCC President Motilal Vora to began his campaign even as gave ticket to Jogi half way through.

Without losing the opportunities, BJP tried to encash on that through his 'gurubhai' and Union minister Swamy Chinmayanand and was convinced to accept total saffronisation, the sources said, adding as a part of that he met the chief minister today and is likely to join the BJP.

Diwan has a strong followers in Mahasamund and his joining BJP will damage Jogi strongly whereas BJP candidate V C Shukla would be immensely beneficial out of that, BJP sources said.