‘Wasn’t consulted before removal’

Gandhinagar: NCP national general secretary and former Gujarat chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela said that the party leadership did not consult him before removing him as the state party president.

Vaghela categorically stated that he has not had any discussions with the party high command over which way the lone NCP MLA from Gujarat, Kandhal Jadeja, should vote in the Rajya Sabha election on June 19.

When contacted, the veteran politician said, “I was not aware of the party decision to remove me from the party’s state responsibility.” He went on to say: “When I came to know of it, I requested the high command to defer the decision until the lockdown is lifted. Then I can travel to Mumbai and meet party supremo Sharad Pawar. However, the party decided to go ahead with its decision.”

When asked if he had suggested to the leadership to prevail on Kandhal Jadeja to vote against BJP candidates in the Rajaya Sabha election, Vaghela said, “No such discussion took place as I was supposed to go to Mumbai after the lockdown was lifted.” He parried a question on whether his removal had anything to do with changing political equations in Maharashtra. He said, “Frankly, I am not aware about this but will inquire and inform the media and people about the facts on Thursday.”

Other independent sources also said that Jadeja’s vote either in favour of BJP candidates or against them was not the primary reason for Vaghela being removed. Political sources said Jadeja allegedly made it clear to the BJP leadership that Porbander SP Parthrajsinh Gohil will have to be transferred if the BJP wanted his RS election vote. Gohil was recently transferred as Mehsana SP, replacing Manish Singh. Jadeja had voted for BJP candidates in the nail-biting 2017 Rajya Sabha election.

Vaghela quit the Congress with 14 of his loyalists who voted against Ahmed Patel in the 2017 RS election. His son Mahendrasinh Vaghela also had briefly joined the BJP after the 2017 assembly election.

After the Covid-19 outbreak, there was murmuring about Vaghela’s ineffective leadership, after which he swung into action and started making statements against the BJP and the Congress.