Gandhinagar:

Former Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela today gave an ultimatum of sorts to his son and former Congress MLA from Bayad in North Gujarat, Mahendrasinh Vaghela, who has joined BJP.

Addressing a press conference here hours after his son’s joining the ruling party, Vaghela said that his son has not taken his supporters in to confidence before taking the decision.

‘I give him one week’s time to either get the approval of his supporters about the decision (to join BJP) and take them also with him or quit the party. Else I won’t have any political relation with him,’ Vaghela said.

‘Mahendrasinh had taken the decision in haste. He had told me three days ago about pressure from friends in BJP to join the party and I had suggested him to take the supporters in to confidence. He might have joined the party hastily under pressure from BJP friends. In politics everybody is free to take a decision but one should never ignore the supporters who were most important. They should not feel cheated by the act of their leader. I had advised Mahendrasinh to be a matured politician,’ Vaghela said.

Notably, of the 14 Congress MLA’s who revolted from the party in July-August last year, 12 had joined BJP. Only Vaghela who took charge of Jan Vikalp Morcha and his son Mahendrasinh had not joined the party then.

Mahendrasinh had openly met BJP president Amit Shah in August last year and said that he would join the party soon. But it took almost a year for doing so.

He is likely to contest Loksabha election from a North Gujarat seat most likely Sabarkantha.

Shankersinh said:

– I don’t fear from CBI or ED, whether it is BJP government or Congress government.

– There has been one year. When I said I will leave Congress, my supporters had tears in eyes. I had said that we would do whatever after deep thinking.

– I am going to give attempt to be active in Lok Sabha elections. I am not moving towards either this side(BJP) or that side(Congress).

– I had advised Mahendrasinh that if he wants to join BJP, then he is an adult person, but he should ask his supporters. I am giving him one week time. He should call supporters and workers from all over Gujarat and ask them. If they react positively, then he should go to Kamalam join BJP along with supporters, and if they say no, then Mahendrasinh should resign and do whatever he wishes to do. Politics must not be personalised. Supporters should not feel that Mahendrasinh joined BJP for himself on his own. Workers who have feeling for the leader should come first.

– I had asked Mahendrasinh that he should not take decision in hurry. He should consult his supporters first.

– Mahendrasinh should do process (of calling and meeting supporters and hear and consider their wishes) in next week. If his he fails to do this process, or if he overrule his supporters, I will disown my political relations with him.

– There must be pressure from BJP friends as Amitbhai was here. My precondition is that one should not take political stand without asking someone(supporters).

– BJP could have calculation in mind to spread message that with Mahendrasinh joining BJP, Shankersinh is almost in BJP.

– I have not compromised withs my self respect. Congress wants me in party even today. Yesterday I went to Radhanpur, and Congress men were asking me to rejoin the party.

– Mahendrasinh was under pressure to join BJP for last three days. I told him that along with him my name is going to BJP. Therefore he should ask his supporters, party workers and if they say yes, Mahendrasinh should go to party along with him.

– If Mahendrasinh is in BJP, I will campaign against him through whichever the party, I am part of. He is in BJP. I am not.

– I have met Narendrabhai twice. Once in vidaay samarambh in assembly and again in oath taking function as Rupani insisted for it. After that I have not met Narendrabhai. I have met Amit Shah only for once. I am in live contact with Congress leaders and I have met them. I have met NCP leaders, other leaders, Mayavati and others.

– I am not trying to join any party. I believe in flowing freely, wherever I land eventually automatically.

DeshGujarat