In an important political development, former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela’s son Mahendrasinh resigned from ruling Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday.
Vaghela had joined the saffron brigade just three months back, but was feeling neglected in the new set and ultimately decided to quit the party ahead of Lok Sabha polls. Junior Vaghela however cited the reason in his resignation to Gujarat BJP president Jitu Vaghani that he decided to quit the party due to ‘personal reasons’.
Following the footstep of his father, Mahendrasinh had left the Opposition Congress party in July 2017 before the State Assembly polls. His father Shankersinh initiated his political career with Jan Sangh and went on to become senior most BJP leader. He however left BJP in 1996 following differences with then Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel and formed his own political party and straight away became Chief Minister with the support of Congress party.
Ahead of the 1998 Gujarat assembly polls Vaghela merged his political outfit with Congress. In UPA Government he was made Union Minister and held couple of portfolios also. Later on he was given the position of Leader of Opposition in Gujarat assembly post 2012 state elections.
He however left Congress as he was denied to project Chief Ministerial candidate in the 2017 assembly polls.
The Congress party had also gave ticket to Mahendrasinh from Bayad assembly constituency from where he got elected in 2012.
Interestingly both Vaghelas along with their 12 more supporters defied the Congress’ whip in the Rajya Sabha election held in Gujarat in August last year and had voted for the BJP against the senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel.