Ahmedabad: As expected, former chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela today extended his support to ‘Jan Vikalp’ front. Vaghela declared this in a press conference held here. Vaghela said ‘Jan Vikalp’ front may contest on all 182 seats. He said his son Mahendrasinh, a two-term MLA who also ran Gandhinagar district panchayat without corruption was free to take his decision. Vaghela said candidates for Jan Vikalp will be selected through U.S. style primaries system at local level while at top level there will be Presidium system like Russia. Vaghela said the issues of youths, unemployment, GST will be raised by Jan Vikalp. He said his approach will be positive. While he will criticize the government, he will not criticize persons including Modi, Shah, Sonia or Ahmedbhai. Vaghela said he was not going to contest upcoming Gujarat assembly polls.

Vaghela said the present rulers have lost human touch. Excess of security disallows a common person to meet the rulers. Traders who went to make representation over GST related issues were not offered water and not asked to sit even. Vaghela said he had removed red beacon light from VIP cars when he was Chief Minister way back in late 1990s. He said he used to meet the people without appointment as Chief Minister. Vaghela said there are many states in which there are third fronts. Even in Gujarat there were third fronts in the past. Vaghela said any political party in alignment with the agenda of Jan Vikalp will be suitable for alliance.

Vaghela said Congress has become a small party. He said 24% reservation for unreserved class should be there beyond existing 49% mark.

Vaghela said his supporters had started Jan Vikalp on Ganesh Chaturthi day. He said, on first day of Navratri he will be visiting Vaijnath Mahadev in Gandhinagar first and later visit Jain pilgrim place Mahudi. He said he will then visit Idar where famous Idariyo Gadh is being mined. He said he will then visit Nana Ambaji at Khedbrahma, Mota Ambaji, Magarvada based Manibhadra vir temple, Umiya mata temple at Unjha for evening aarti and lastly Muslim pilgrim place Mira Datar.

DeshGujarat