Jogi's return to Cong not possible: Punia

New Delhi: Chhattisgarh in-charge of Congress P L Punia has dismissed speculations that former chief minister Ajit Jogi can return to the party ahead of the state assembly election, saying the doors are closed for him.

Punia, who was an aide of Mayawati when she was the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, also claimed that there can be no alliance between Jogi and the Bahujan Samaj Party.

He blamed Jogi and BJP for circulating "this rumour", saying they are "experts in spreading rumours".

"In the 2013 naxal attack in Jiram valley in Bastar district, our top leadership in Chhattisgarh was liquidated. Jogi was accused of being behind the attack and these accusations are in public domain. This cannot be forgiven. The doors are closed for him," Punia told PTI-Bhasha in an interview.

His remarks are significant as there had been reports in a section of media that Congress may overcome resistance from within the party to take Jogi's support ahead of the assembly polls by year-end. The idea behind soliciting support from Jogi was to avoid the division of anti-BJP votes.

The BJP has been in power in the state for 15 years. It had announced a two-phase campaign for the assembly polls. The first phase was launched in May and the second will start in August.

Punia appeared supportive of a Congress-BSP alliance in the Chhattisgarh.