In an interview with ET Gujarat Congress general secretary, Ashok Gehlot said that the resignation of Shankersinh Vaghela will not affect the party. Congress is a strong party and has witnessed entry and exits of many leaders, his leaving will not make any difference to the party but it surely is his biggest blunder.
He further added that Vaghela was Congress Legislative Party’s leader for over four years and quitting the party just before the Rajya Sabha elections due on 8 Aug and assembly polls due later this year was not a very good move to make. He said that the party had given everything to Vaghela, he was the state unit president and Cabinet minister in UPA government at the centre. His decision of leaving the party will be seen as an opportunistic move and he will not get any sympathy from the people.
During the interview when asked about Gehlot’s views on Vaghela allegation of mismanagement in the party regarding the distribution of tickets, he said that Vaghela is just scared and so he made such remarks. Gehlot said that being claustrophobic has become a common feeling under BJP rule in the country, maybe Vaghela got pressured by CBI’s searches at his properties and made such comments.
Talking about the cross voting during the presidential elections, Gehlot said that though few members voted against the party’s choice but now everything is settled. A party meeting of all MLAs is also organised on 25 July in Ahmedabad to discuss the Rajya Sabha polls. He ensured that Ahmed Patel will be re-elected in the elections. He also denied any possibility that Congress expelled Vaghela, he said that he resigned on his own and the party did not expel him.
Ashok Gehlot also briefed about the preparation for assembly election saying that before the door-to-door campaigning is started the ground work is being done meticulously, the work for each one is clearly divided and Leaders have been deputed to go to the districts and divisions.