After almost a year’s political sabbatical, the famous turncoat in Gujarat Shankersinh Vaghela is getting active ahead of 2019 lok Sabha polls as rumours are making rounds in the political circles of the State that the former Union Minister of State for Textile in Congress led UPA Government may join Sharad Pawar’s political outfit – Nationalist Congress.
Before joining Jan Sangh and later on BJP, 78-year-old veteran politician was active member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Along with former Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he played instrumental role in bringing the saffron party in power in 1990s.
However, Vaghela who is known as ‘Bapu’ in political circle of Gujarat, rebelled against BJP leadership as Keshubhai Patel was made Chief Minister over him post historic victory of the party in 1995 assembly polls. later on in 1996 he decided to leave the saffron brigade and not only went on to float his own political outfit Rashtriya Janata Party (RJP) but also became Chief Minister with the support of other rebel MlAs of BJP and Opposition Congress party. After defeat in 1998 assembly polls, Vaghela decided to merge RJP in Congress party.
Almost two decades after joining Congress party and enjoying different important positions including that of cabinet rank minister in UPA government and leader of Opposition in Gujarat assembly, Vaghela severed his ties with the oldest political party in India in August 2017. His resignation came ahead of the keenly contested Rajya Sabha elections along with his son Mahendrasinh, relative Balvantsinh Rajput and several other Congress MlAs as part of the strategy to defeat senior Ahmed Patel, political advisor of then Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Interestingly, the veteran politician floated a political front Jan Vikalp Morcha ahead of 2017 assembly polls and contested from 105 out of 182 constituencies under the symbol of a dormant Rajasthan based political party – All India Hindustan Congress, but the experiment a la RJP, once again flopped.
Rajput and few other rebel Congress MlAs joined BJP during and immediately after 2017 assembly polls. Much to Vaghela’s chagrin, finally his son Mahendrasinh too joined the saffron fold earlier this year.
“Vaghela and NCP chief Pawar are long time friends irrespective of party lines. Bapu is once again trying to offer third option to Gujarat’s voter in association with NCP. If he joins NCP, it would be win-win situation for both Vaghela as well as Pawar in the state in view of upcoming lok Sabha polls,” says a close aide of Vaghela.
