Gujarat polls: Vaghela calls self Congress captain

Former BJP chief minister Shankarsinh Vaghela, who is the tallest Congress leader in Gujarat, made claims that might ruffle some feathers in the party.

Reacting to Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s remark that the BJP has declared their chief ministerial candidate and no captain exists in the Congress camp, Vaghela told CNN-IBN, “I told people that I am the captain of the Congress party in Gujarat.”

However, Vaghela had little more to offer to the electorate than criticising Modi’s communal politics and corrupt administration during his campaign.

“BJP wants that kind of polarisation. Why do you need to change the name of Ahmedabad to Karnavati as if you are allergic to Ahmed?” he asked.

Despite Vaghela’s stature in Gujarat politics, his acceptance as Congress chief ministerial candidate is suspect. Gujarat Congress president Arjun Modhwadia and Leader of Opposition Shaktisinh Gohil will not find it easy to accept Vaghela as their captain.

Even as the first phase of the polls is knocking at the door, this internal crisis in Congress leadership in Gujarat will do more harm than good to the party.

The state goes to polls on 13 and 17 December. The counting of votes is on 20 December.