CONG’S GUJARAT PILLAR FALLS
Saturday, 22 July 2017 | NAYAN DAVE | GANDHINAGAR/New Delhi
The Congress’ trouble continues to mount. After several of its MLAs in Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra were reported to have cross-voted in favour of the NDA presidential candidate Ram Nath Kovind, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Gujarat Assembly and former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela created a political upheaval by announcing his decision to quit the party. The Congress faces trouble in another poll-bound State — Himachal Pradesh — too as senior leader Ambika Soni asked the leadership to relieve her as incharge of the State.
Addressing a convention convened by his supporters to mark his 77th birthday, Vaghela targeted the oldest political party claiming that the Congress expelled him on Thursday. “Vinash kale viparit buddhi,” he said. The veteran politician having RSS background parted ways with the Congress after almost two decades.
Keeping suspense over his future course of action, he said he was a free bird now but he would not join the BJP either. “Bapu never retires. People of Gujarat will decide what I should do next,” said Vaghela.
Reacting to Vaghela’s announcement, the Congress clarified that he was not sacked from the party. Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Bharatsinh Solanki said he still respects Vaghela. He, however, indicated that departure of Vaghela would not affect Congress’ position in the upcoming Assembly polls and the party would emerge victorious.
“I have become a victim of intra-party conspiracy for the second time in my political career. First it was the BJP, now it is the Congress,” said the septuagenarian politician, adding that during a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, he promised her that he wouldn’t break her faith and not join the BJP.
He claimed that there is a conspiracy to oust him from the party and he told about it to AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi also.
On his social media handle, he changed his designation from Leader of Opposition to ex-Chief Minister. Vaghela would resign as legislator after elections of three Rajya Sabha seats slated on August 3.
Interestingly, despite clear mandate of the Gujarat Congress to its MLAs not to attend Vaghela’s function, 10 MLAs attended the birthday bash. Moreover two legislators of Sharad Pawar’s political outfit NCP too attended the political drama.
Over the past few months, Vaghela was been upset with the Congress high command over the leadership issue for the upcoming Assembly polls. He was of the opinion that like Punjab the party should announce Chief Ministerial candidate for Gujarat polls. However, party high command ignored his requests repeatedly.
There has been speculation that Vaghela may join hands with the NCP and pro-quota Patidar leader Hardik Patel would support him in the upcoming Assembly polls. Well-known OBC leader Alpesh Thakor as well as Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani too is in continuous contact with the veteran politician.
In Delhi, the Congress said it has neither expelled nor initiated any disciplinary action against Vaghela who quit the party. Keeping the door open for the rebel leader to return, it said that he had been given many important responsibilities but made it clear that the party is bigger than “ambition of one person”.
“Neither has the Congress taken any disciplinary action against him nor has he been expelled from the party. Both these facts are entirely incorrect,” said Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala.
“Vaghela wanted that the present PCC president should be replaced and he be appointed in his place. This is a decision of the party and its leadership and no individual can decide it. For the party is bigger than individuals. Each one of us needs to understand that interests of the party and its ideals are bigger than ambition of one person. We sincerely hope that he’ll continue to work for the party despite his decision to quit party posts,” said the Congress leader.
Meanwhile, the grand old party also seemed to face trouble in another poll-bound Himachal Pradesh too. Senior party leader Ambika Soni has asked the leadership to relieve her as incharge of the State. However, she dismissed reports of her resignation from the party, saying she had asked the leadership to lighten her duties due to her health. Soni is the AICC general secretary incharge of party affairs in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu & Kashmir. “There is no question of resigning,” Soni said.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/todays-newspaper/congs-gujarat-pillar-falls.html
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