By Japan K Pathak

Ahmedabad: What is the relevance of few posters here and there? Anyone can put them up in the night. Should media take notice of that and give it importance? No.

Still this poster(photo attached above) in Vadodara is in news.

The poster says: ‘Whether BJP or Congress, (Shankersinh) Bapu’s government after Gujarat assembly elections 2017, best wishes from glorious Gujaratis’.

While possibilities of Shankersinh and his MLA son, or just his MLA son returning to BJP ahead of Gujarat elections can’t be denied, it needs to be understood that all Shankersinh can get by joining BJP is at the most ministry for his MLA son and Governorship for self.

BJP has long ago taken a decision that none above 75 age would not be given ministry, forget chief minister post.

If Shankersinh bapu by joining BJP wants to enter in his 80s at some Governor house (he surely would choose Goa if given choices) that’s likely possibility, but Chief Ministership doesn’t seem possible in BJP or in today’s situation even in Congress where there are enough speed breakers for him or let me use the word land mines instead of speed breakers.

Let me add here that once Shankersinh was conveyed by Delhi based Congress leader that he could be made Governor if he wished. Shankersinh in his reply had said: Come to my bungalow in Gandhinagar. It is better than any Raj Bhavan. Better I live here rather than choosing to become Governor somewhere.

But that was 2009-10. The time and political picture has changed now. We don’t know whether Shankersinh has changed as well.

While Shankersin’s induction to BJP – which is very much speculated nowadays – might give perception wise a big jolt and shocker to main opposition Congress party ahead of Gujarat polls, the actual worth of Shankersinh is very much overrated. Shankersinh couldn’t complete his term when he rebelled and formed government after infamous Khajuraho episode in 1990s. People’s verdict in general elections after that was overwhelmingly against him. So he can’t claim he gave popular government when elected as Chief Minister. Shankersinh has himself lost polls in recent years. He has not been consistent constituency winner. He doesn’t enjoy solid and dedicated influence over any class, segment, section or geographical area. Congress had lost general elections in Gujarat when he was made state party president and campaign committee chairman.

So if at all Shankersinh – who doesn’t seem happy the way Rahul Gandhi is steering the affairs – wishes to come back to BJP at any point of time future, it should be seen as ‘practical Paswan way’ in politics. Yes, I am referring to Ramvilas Paswan who smells popular sentiment and joins winning party as ally ahead of general elections of Lok Sabha and continues to remain minister irrespective of any party in power.

The popular question in this election year in Gujarat at present is not that who would win the assembly election later this year, but it is that whether Shankersinh would join BJP ahead of elections? If yes, when? If not, when?

Shankersinh likes such discussion taking place about him and importance he gets as a result.

DeshGujarat