Ahmedabad: Close on heels of the meeting of two Congress MLA’s with NCP general secretary and former union minister Praful Patel, Senior party leader and leader of opposition in Gujarat assembly Shankersinh Vaghela also met NCP supremo Sharad Pawar here today.

Among the two Congress MLA’s that met Mr Patel two days ago was Vaghela’s son Mahendra Vaghela.

Shankersinh Vaghela came to meet Pawar at the NCP’s new state head office off SG highway, which was inaugurated by the former Maharashtra CM today.

Vaghela told media persons that NCP was an old ally.

‘Congress and NCP had contested elections together and in future too we will remain together. Though the nitty gritty of the coalition for upcoming assembly election in Gujarat would be finalized by the party high-command but the fact remains that we are old allies,’ Vaghela told newsmen.

NCP state president Jayant Patel alias Bosky said that Pawar and Vaghela, the two veterans discussed several political issues. ‘They also discussed the prevailing political situation in the country including the anointment of a particular person as UP chief minister,’ he said.

Meanwhile contrary to the claims of Vaghela, the speculations in Gujarat are rife that NCP, with 2 MLAs in 182 member assembly, is likely to contest the next assembly elections in the state due to be held by December this year at its own. Earlier also some of the congress MLA’s had meeting with senior NCP leader Praful Patel.

Earlier Congress MLA from Viramgam Tejshriben Patel and Bayad MLA Mahendra Vaghela (son of Shankersinh Vaghela) had a meeting with Mr Praful Patel at Gandhinagar circuit house two days ago. Bayad is the place where NCP had recently led a coup in the local municipal body to oust BJP out of power. The NCP had termed the meeting a chance and courtesy call.

DeshGujarat