After the jolt of 11 of its legislators voting for the opposite camp in the presidential poll, the Congress in Gujarat is set to get another jolt with the quitting of leader of the Opposition Shankarsinh Vaghela from the party along with his supporters, including several legislators.
Mr Vaghela may announce on Friday the formation of a third front or return to the BJP more than two decades after he split the saffron party in mid 90s. Friday is Mr Vaghela's birthday and he is holding a convention of his supporters in Gandhinagar.
Among the options Mr. Vaghela is reportedly considering include joining the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which has two MLAs in the State and is trying to create a third front in Gujarat where the polity remains distinctly bipolar for decades.
The Congress has advised its leaders against attending the event, which is likely to be a platform to criticise the party's leadership on preparations for Assembly polls to be held later this year.
“It is unfortunate that the party has asked all legislators to skip the convention. We will attend it and are prepared to face the consequences,” said Mahendrasinh Vaghela, Mr. Vaghela's legislator son.
Stunned by the open defiance by party legislators by their action of cross-voting, the Congress high command immediately called party president Bharatsinh Solanki and State in charge Ashok Gehlot for a meeting in New Delhi.
The divisions in the State unit of the Congress is likely to result in a section of legislators joining the BJP ahead of the elections. More immediately, the cross-voting will affect the Rajya Sabha polls for three seats: the Congress has one of those. Incumbent Ahmed Patel, a party stalwart, is likely to be repeated by the party.
For last the two months, Mr. Vaghela has been sulking over his differences with Mr. Solanki.
Mr. Vaghela had criticised the party high command for ignoring his repeated suggestions on election preparations. Party insiders say Mr. Vaghela’s main demand is the removal of Mr. Solanki, but the high command has not yielded to it.
