Former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela, who left Congress earlier this year, announced on Tuesday formation of third front in the State and joined a newly-formed ‘Jan Vikalp Morcha’ (JVM) in the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls.
Addressing a heavily crowded Press conference, Vaghela, popularly known as Bapu among his supporters, said, “It is a myth to say that an alternative political force cannot work in Gujarat. Through Jan Vikalp, we will provide a platform to anyone willing to serve people. Those who want to benefit from people are not welcome.”
Vaghela made it a point of clarity that the JVM is not a political party but a political front which would support those candidates who are neither with the BJP nor with the Congress. He claimed that people were unhappy with the ruling party BJP over multiple issues as well as ineffective Opposition party Congress for not raising people’s issues.
Vaghela said even the Aam Aadmi Party, the NCP or the JD(U) or anyone who is in sync with our ideology is welcome to join this Third Front. He indicated that the JVM would field candidates in all 182 Assembly constituencies.
The JVM was formed by Parthesh Patel, who was former advisor to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for online media. Patel is now closely working with Vaghela.
Vaghela claimed that the JVM has recently done a survey on next CM of Gujarat from a professional agency. The survey revealed that more people wanted him as Chief Minister compared to BJP’s Vijay Rupani and Congress’s Ahmed Patel, he added.
“The role of JVM will be positive and on this platform, we will not pass any personal comment on political leaders belonging to the BJP and the Congress,” said Vaghela.
This not for the first time, Vaghela came openly for the Third Front in Gujarat’s politics. The 78-year-old leader had formed a political outfit — Rashtriya Janata Party in mid-nineties after he left the BJP following his disputes with then Gujarat CM Keshubhai Patel. The powerful politician toppled the Keshubhai Patel Government and went on to become Gujarat CM with the support of Congress. However, his party miserably failed in the next elections and finally Vaghela decided to merge his political outfit with the Congress.