On The Jogi Trail

On December 4, after the poll result was known, Jogi had appeared to have accepted his role as an oppositionleader. Usual homilies about accepting the verdict of the people were mouthed. 

But by December 5, when it seemed that the BJP was going to adopt a non-tribal as the chief-minister,calculations seem to have changed. Recently defected-from BJP, Lok Sabha member P.R. Khunte, was apparentlyused to get in touch with Virendra Pandey, who happens to be a friend of Baliram Kashyap, a tribal BJP LokSabha member from Bastar.

The same evening, Khunte was on the phone to Pandey, suggesting that Kashyap could become the CM with thesupport of the Congress (36 MLAs), the BSP (2 MLAs) and the NCP (1 MLA).

Now it is not clear whether or not Khunte and Pandey had been in it together, but the version which seemsto be widely accepted so far is that Pandey pretended to bite the bait, listed his conditions, including avast sum of money. He was told that Jogi would call him the next day.

December 6: Pandey taped his conversations with Jogi and Khunte. (see excerpts above). The amounts to bepaid for the "purchase" are decided.

By 11.30 a.m. Khunte’s son Bunty apparently even delivered the first advance instalment of Rs 20 lakhnear Khanij Bhavan, Raipur. 

In the meanwhile,  Pandey has briefed DPM Advani, law minister Jaitley and Pramod Mahajan in Delhi.Arun Jaitley is rushed to Raipur. Kashyap, in the interim informs Jogi that he would reach Raipur by evening and that he should go ahead with the arrangement with Pandey.

Pandey meanwhile has prepared a hotel with a spycam, but keeping the recent Judeo case in mind, Jogirefuses. By 8:15 p.m. Pandey is told to go near Radiant Public School, 20 km or so from Raipur. Why Jogidoesn't suspect wiring or spycam on person is perhaps best explained as bravado or a reasonable gamble.

Meanwhile, two TV channels had been tipped off and their correspondents and photographers rushed to captureit all for some candid camera shots. Apparently, they were not told what they were "going to get".

The details are unclear but apparently, as the version goes, on the way to the rendezvous point,  Jogispotted some "unusual" movements along his route and sped away. Because of which the televisioncameras could only get shots of some speeding cars and with all the excitement happening, the reporters couldrealise only late in the evening what they had "actually missed".

Anyway, Jogi and his son Amit travelled in a numberless Tata Safari, driven by Amit  and Jogi in theback seat. The Jogis ask Kashyap and Pandey to climb into their vehicle, assures them that all theirconditions -- including the money demand --  will be met. Amit reportedly chimes in to fix a price tag ofRs 25 lakh for each defecting MLA. 

A car following them is signaled to a stop. Amit's friend in that car hands over a bag with Rs 25 lakhs init to the BJP duo. The letter of support is handed over too.

By around 10:30 p.m., Jaitley and  senior state BJP leaders are having the press-conference of theirlives, announcing the whole sordid saga.

Wags are already saying how only a DVD scam is left to hit the headlines. Imagine, some of this could havebeen on video too! Judeo must be giving his moustache yet another twirl.