Even as the Opposition Congress is still to decide its strategies for the forthcoming State Assembly polls, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani announced to contest from his existing Rajkot West constituency.
Addressing a meeting of BJP workers of his constituency Rupani made it clear. His remarks came following Congress MlA from Rajkot East constituency Indranil Rajguru’s statement that the Gujarat CM would change his constituency. The Congress has almost finalised Rajguru for the Rajkot West constituency and since past one year he is holding group meetings there.
“I am not going to change my constituency. However senior Congress leaders like Shankersinh Vaghela (leader of Opposition) and Shaktisinh Gohil are looking for safe options as they are not going to win from their present constituencies,” said the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, lots of speculation is going on following a meeting of Gujarat Congress leaders with their top leader and All India Congress Committee (AICC) vice-president Rahul Gandhi at New Delhi on Saturday.
The meeting has become hot topic in the political circles of Gujarat as Vaghela left the meeting before it concluded. Moreover, he was also not present for the group photograph taken of all the core-committee members with Gandhi.
The meeting was held to resolve Gujarat Congress infighting in which newly appointed in-charge of the state and former Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, political advisor of AICC president Sonia Gandhi and Member of Parliament Ahmed Patel, Gujarat Padesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Bharatsinh Solanki, Vaghela, Gohil, former Gujarat Congress president Arjun Modhvadia among others remained present.
A senior GPCC leader on the condition of anonymity said that Vaghela would be appointed as Campaign Committee Chief for the forthcoming assembly polls. Vaghela’s supporters want him to be declared as Chief Ministerial candidate. In a show of strength at his palatial bungalow on the outskirts of state capital Gandhinagar at least 36 out of 57 Congress MlAs allegedly supported Vaghela’s claim as CM candidate.
GPCC is allegedly hit by four factions led by Solanki, Gohil, Modhvadia and Vaghela. Over the past three assembly polls, these factions were seen becoming hyper active when times of ticket allocation for 182 constituencies come closer. Every faction wanted larger pie from the cake and ultimately proved to be poor choices of candidates following results of polls. Post meeting with Rahul Gandhi, GPCC chief Solanki quoted as saying that as per tradition the party will not declare any person as CM candidate and would allow elected MlAs to choose their leader.