Gandhinagar: Former minister Jay Narayan Vyas who has been giving all indications that he is upset with ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for long, today was in news for his meeting with Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior observer of Gujarat Congress Ashok Gehlot.

Jay Narayan Vyas on his closed door meeting with Ashok Gehlot told a Gujarati news channel that he had met Gehlot to discuss the Narmada oriented irrigation in Rajasthan as he is writing a book on Narmada Yojana. Vyas admired Gehlot-led Congress government in Rajasthan for “success of his government in Covid management and implementation of ruled-based irrigation”. Vyas also criticized Gujarat government’s actions during Covid-19 pandemic, especially in connection with ‘108’ emergency services. Vyas said he has met Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal also as he is fellow IITian. Vyas claimed his TV show that he anchors is highest watched and he meets people for seeking knowledge and research.

When asked whether he would join the Congress party, Jaynarayan Vyas replied to a private news channel that “not now”. He added that he has sought BJP ticket to contest from Sidhpur assembly seat and the first right of rejection is that of BJP. He said if BJP rejects his name then he would think as per his supporters’ wish. He said he would contest if his supporters ask him to do so. He said he has submitted a form in BJP for a party ticket from Sidhpur. He said his 80 per cent workers want him to contest from Sidhpur.

When asked whether he would join Congress if BJP denies him ticket, Vyas said Sidhpur is not BJP constituency as it has 50,000 plus minority votes, 30,000 around Dalit votes and 45,000 plus OBC votes. It is a typical constituency of Congress.

Vyas has been vocal against Prime Minister Narendrabhai Modi and BJP governments in the Centre and the State in his Facebook posts and in his TV debate programmes on the Gujarat Samachar TV (GSTV) which he anchored for months but later became participant as debater after his prolonged illness.

Ruling BJP had repeated Jay Narayay Vyas as its candidate on Sidhpur seat in last two assembly polls, but he couldn’t win any of two against rival Congress candidates. It is believed that BJP is fielding someone else on Sidhpur seat this time in order to regain the seat. In such circumstances, Jay Narayan Vyas’s meeting with Gehlot is touted as his attempt to try his luck on the same seat in upcoming State assembly polls once again, but as Congress candidate.

Vyas was a day ago seen sitting with Gujarat BJP chief CR Patil on the stage in the party function in Sidhpur along side former Sidhpur Congress MLA Balwantsinh Rajput who had joined BJP after leaving Congress as party’s then Chief Whip. Rajput was seeking ticker on Sidhpur seat last time, but BJP went for repetition of Jay Narayan Vyas. However Vyas lost the election against Congress candidate Chandansinh Thakor. The BJP may field a candidate who can win the election on Sidhpur seat this time. Vyas has today categorically stated that if BJP rejects his wish to contest from Sidhpur then he would do as per wishes of his workers. Clearly Vyas has conveyed BJP high commands through today’s meet with Gehlot that he is in contact with Congress if BJP rejects his application for candidature from Sidhpur. DeshGujarat