Ahmedabad: Former president of Gujarat Congress Siddharth Patel today told media persons at State party headquarters in Ahmedabad that party MLAs and other office bearers should avoid going to tomorrow’s gathering organized by Shankersinh Vaghela.

“Congress party’s coordination committee meeting was held today. It was chaired by State party president Bharatsinh Solanki. The current political scenario was discussed in this meeting in detail,” Siddharth Patel said in official briefing.

“Shankersinh Vaghela is our senior leader. He had called a meeting on June 25 in which he had made some remarks in reference to Congress party. However, looking at his seniority, Congress party stayed away from giving any reaction because we all believed that he will not repeat such remark.”

“Two days ago all members of core committee had met him togather and requested him that party needs to contest upcoming polls unitedly. Whatever are the demands and differences should be resolved through dialogue within the party forum.”

“Tomorrow is Shankersin Vaghela’s birthday. We all convey our greetings to him for birthday. But birthday is social occassion and if it is used politically, that’s unfair and improper and the party not at all accept it.”

“In reference to this decision taken by core committee, the party will take its decision next. ”

“The party has made it clear that such approach is not acceptable to party and I understand that after such a clarity made by the party MLAs and other leaders will avoid attending the meeting called by Shankersinh. It’s a collective unanimous decision,” Patel said.

Spokesperson Manish Doshi’s version

Ahmedabad: Congress party today categorically asked all its elected representatives including MLA’s and local body representatives to not to attend the Sam-Samvedana Sammelan to be held on the birthday of its legislature party leader Shankersinh Vaghela in town hall in capital Gandhinagar tomorrow.

The step is being seen as the reaction to the cross voting by over half a dozen Congress MLA’s (supposedly Vaghela’s supporters) in the Presidential election.

The party has also hinted about a strong action against Vaghela soon.

Party spokesperson Manish Doshi said that all the party MLA’s and other elected representatives of the party have been asked not to participate in the meeting.

‘It has been decided by our core committee. We have no problem with birthdays but using social forums to utter things against party can’t be allowed. It has happened last time also when meeting (Vaghela’s) touted as social event was used for such utterings,’ he said.

To a query about cross voting in presidential election, he said that the party has taken it very seriously and action would be taken in consultation with the high command.

He said that today state president Bharatsinh Solanki had also met party in-charge for Gujarat fAshok Gehlot at the circuit house here and both the leaders also discussed several issues including the cross voting.

Meanwhile, Solanki earlier said that the cross voting was an unfortunate happening. He will take up the matter with the high command to decide the further course of action in this regard.

Shankersinh Vaghela, has invited all the opposition MLA’s including of his own party to participate in the meeting to be held tomorrow in which is to make an important announcement.

He is in Delhi today and has claimed that he was there for personal work and not at the call of the high command.

DeshGujarat