Ahmedabad, 22 February 2014

After its several elected candidates and some office bearers joined BJP recently, top brass of Congress leadership in Gujarat is shaken.

Recently there were news reports suggesting possibility of leader of opposition Shankersinh Vaghela joining BJP. Vaghela had to convey his stand to continue with Congress through his social media team.

On Friday, Rajkot MP Kunvarji Bavalia had to clarify that he is going to continue with Congress. He said BJP people are spreading rumors, but he is not going to join BJP. He said he will stay in Congress and contest Rajkot Lok Sabha seat on Congress ticket only.

While Bavalia blames BJP for spreading rumor, the fact is that some Congress people unhappy with leadership of the party are the ones who brief reporters on possibility of Bavalia joining BJP.

Senior leader issues statement confirming his loyalty to Congress

Insiders say there’s complete lack of trust from top to bottom in Congress hierarchy in Gujarat. Nobody is sure who is flirting with BJP behind the curtain and who is genuinely loyal to Congress.

Modi’s point-men on organization side Vijay Rupani, Shankar Chaudhary, Narhari Amin and others are believed to be in contact with more Congress men.

One Congress leader told us that his supporters, workers and relatives have recently started asking whether joining BJP is better option for him or not.

Interestingly MLAs like Jasha Barad and Rajendrasinh Chavda or MP Vitthal Radadia who joined BJP in recent past are traditionally Shankersinh Vaghela supporters. Originally a BJPian Shankersinh who according to well-placed political sources is fed up with infighting and lack of leadership in Congress (in state as well as in centre) has allowed his supporters to take decision on their political path as per their own wish. It is not that Shankersinh is pushing his loyalists to BJP, but at least he is not stopping them. Another political player Keshubhai has already publicly asked his supporters to choose their political path on their own, preferably in favor of BJP. His loyalist Bavku Udhad left Congress to join BJP. His son Bharat and GPP’s MLA Nalin Kotadia too have joined BJP. Another Keshubhai loyalist Gordhan Zadafia has announced his intention to join BJP, but he is bargaining much and therefore there’s delay.

Cocktail of some foreign funded/directed NGOs, section of local media and direction-less group of Congress men is called opposition force in Gujarat at present.