Raipur, Jun 3 (TNN) : Congress suffered another setback, this time in Chhattisgarh , with former chief minister Ajit Jogi set to float his own party.

Jogi's rebellion follows revolts in Assam and Uttarakhand where rebels left Congress blaming the leadership, and more specifically Rahul Gandhi , for not hearing their grievances. Himanta Biswa Sarma's departure was crucial to BJP's win in Assam while Uttarakhand's ex-CM Vijay Bahuguna but brought down the Rawat government.

"I would not like to make a comment about Congress or Bhupesh Baghel (Chhattisgarh Congress chief) but will only wish them good night or shubh ratri," Jogi said in an official statement. The reference clearly had a double meaning, a hint at Congress facing a long night as well as a curt goodbye.

Jogi rubbed in his disillusionment with the leadership when he was quoted by a daily as saying that attempting to get a hearing in the party was akin to " bhains ke aage bin bajana (playing a flute before a buffalo)". State Congress spokesman Shailesh Nitin Trivedi told TOI, "State Congress has taken note of former CM Ajit Jogi's statements and also the 'bhains' jibe against the leadership."

There are reports of rebellion brewing against Meghalaya CM Mukul Sangma too.

An unrepentant Ajit Jogi said he would meet his supporters on June 6 in Kotmi in his constituency of Marwahi to decide on the next course of action. "I am going to meet the elders of the Marwahi constituency. I will take their advice to decide on the name, symbol and other matters pertaining to the new party," he said.

He made clear his intention to take on Congress by declaring that the party was incapable of challenging the ruling BJP in the state. He alleged that senior party members like Baghel and TS Singhdeo had "vested interests in land deals and want to be protected from cases against them".

Jogi, who has had more than one brush with controversy, said the new party would lead the fight against the BJP government. "The present-day Congress is different from the party led by Nehru, Indira, Rajiv and Sonia. Now, leaders with a mass base have no say in the organisation," said Jogi.