Gandhinagar: Addressing the media at his residence ‘Vasant Vagdo’ here, former Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela today said his stand in the next Lok Sabha general elections will be against the BJP government in the Centre. He said he would remain active in a fashion that anti-BJP votes don’t split. He said he will be in the second front and not third front.

Vaghela said he had met various regional as well as national leaders in recent months including Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar and Advani. He said he would voluntarily work to ensure a non-BJP prime minister in power after year 2019 general elections.

Vaghela refused to reply whether he would contest the Lok Sabha elections or not. He said in Gujarat there are two parties BJP and Congress and then there’s Nationalist Congress Party(NCP), but non-BJP votes should not split between NCP and Congress. Vaghela gave a hint that he could ultimately work with NCP in Gujarat and anti-BJP front nationally.

On his meeting with Advani, Vaghela said Advani told him, he would contest from Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat again in 2019 polls.

On his meeting with senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, Vaghela said, ‘I had gone to prayer meeting after Muhammad Fansiwala’s death. Ahmed Patel was also there. Later I had brief tea session at Ahmed Patel’s farm house.’

It should be mentioned that Vaghela and his aides had voted against Ahmed Patel in Rajya Sabha election last year in Gujarat.

When asked whether he would like to see Narendra Modi as Prime Minister or Rahul Gandhi, Vaghela replied, Rahul Gandhi himself wanted to see any non-BJP person as Prime Minister.

Vaghela refused any attempt from his side to rejoin Congress party. When asked about his son Mahendrasinh Vaghela who has recently joined BJP, Vaghela said he was told by his son that whatever was father’s decision was accepted to son.

Vaghela gave examples of various anti-BJP parties in different states that are rivals to each other and said he would like to become glue to ensure they work together against BJP.

Vaghela criticised the Centre and state government over petrol/diesel price hike and said the government should cut tax on oil.

DeshGujarat