Gujarat elections 2017 | Cong should not have fallen into BJP’s Hindutva trap: Shankersinh Vaghela

Shankersinh Vaghela (77) once a potential chief ministerial candidate both in the BJP and then in the Congress is now waging a lonely, almost lost battle in the bi-polar political arena of Gujarat. DNA catches up with the 'Bapu' of Gujarat politics in Gandhinagar.

Vaghela is unfazed with virtually no possibility of any of his 100 candidates winning a seat or tepid response in his public rallies, insisting no one should run away from doing an "experiment" He praised both Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, saying some people with an influence on the Congress high command, forced him to quit.

This time you, rather your candidates are in the fray for the first time without the backing of any major party. Do you feel the difference?

The big difference is that having seen the functioning of both major national parties, I am now going for this new experiment. Sycophancy rules in the national parties in the name of the high command. While political parties are must in a democracy, there is no democracy in political parties. You saw leaders in both parties avoiding party workers when they faced anger after ticket distribution. What kind of candidates are you fielding that you have to seek protection against them? Then what will such elected representatives do to people?

How do you see this election campaign going on in Gujarat. Have you seen such sharp election campaigns in the past.

What election campaign? Where are the people's issues. One is calling the other 'chor', the other is calling back the first 'Mahchor'. So are the people expected to choose between 'thag' and 'mahathag'.

You quit Congress ahead of Assembly polls. Now there is a buzz that Rahul Gandhi is getting quite some traction in Gujarat and the election is a tight one. Rahul Gandhi has visited a number of temples. Your views?

There was no need for Congress to fall into this Hidutva trap of BJP. If the discourse is between "Naram Hindu" (soft Hindutva) and "Garam Hindu" (hard core Hindutva), it is the latter which will have the last laugh. Congress should instead have focused on people's issues, jobs, development. Congress has squandered an opportunity.

But why did you leave Congress? Do you think your presence could have helped Congress and you would also have been a beneficiary?

Yes, Congress would have come to power had my association with it continued. I told Rahul Gandhi that I will deliver 90 plus seats without any financial support for the party. He had agreed. But then some people in the party, who are in hand in glove with BJP , created some doubts. Congress leadership did not show the inclination to prevent me from deserting the party. Now they have lost the plot. In the second phase, the Congress has gone for chaotic seat distribution.

A number of leaders who left the Congress castigated Rahul Gandhi. What are your views on him? Do you see Congress benefitting after his becoming party President or rather losing traction?

He is a very good person. He is not crooked person like many in politics. He is an open man and the Congress will benefit after the command passes on to a single hand. Earlier, with two power centres, some people with vested interests used to have influence on decisions even after he had decided something. Now the crooked people will be out. Even in my case, he had agreed to hand over the decision to me in Gujarat. But then some people prevailed.

What about Sonia Gandhi?

She carried herself with utmost grace. She had married Rajiv Gandhi on a pre-condition that he will not join politics. But destiny had it otherwise. So she is here. But the thing is they are not controlling the party. One particular leader of Congress in every state is running the show. If you do not bow before him, you are out.

Who are those people?

We all know.

Do you regret having left the Congress?

There is no question of regretting when you take a decision after thinking about the pros and cons. A political party must come to power to serve the people. I saw lack of will in Congress to capture power. I was not there to sit in the Opposition. Even when I was with Jansangh, I used to impress upon the fact that we must come to power to serve people. When I was convinced that the manner in which it is operating, Congress will not come to power in the state, I left. Since I had RSS or Jansangh roots, it seems they could not trust me. Then what was the option?

What impact do you see of Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakore and Jignesh Mewani on the polls. All three are backing Congress.

They have created an atmosphere, a buzz. Congress will benefit due to this Patidar agitation. OBC and Dalits already supported the Congress. But Patidar impact will only be felt in four five pockets. BJP has a number of senior Patel leaders. They will retain their seats like Nitin Patel in Mehsan, Saurabh Patel in Botda, Jitu Bhagnani in Bhavnagar.

Is Modi magic working for BJP?

When one reaches a peak, a climbdown is the natural corollary. (Chadte sooraj ko dheere dheere dhalna hi hota hai). Modi reached his peak when he became Prime Minister in 2014.

Who according to you is winning this election?

BJP has been in power for 22 years. They have an edge, though their seats will come down from what they had got in 2012. Demonetisation and GST have shaken BJP in industrial hubs but Congress is not prepared enough to make a change.

Is it a Rahul versus Modi battle.

This is media creation

You have worked in both BJP and Congress in past. Which party would you like to go back? In which party, you are more comfortable.

I have been comfortable in both parties. The difference between BJP and Congress is that while I was in the making of the former, the latter was made by some one else.

I will not join any political party as such but will be available to work for any of them if people from BJP and Congress approach me. It will be issue based support. I am open to work with both.

Your son also left Congress along with you. But neither your nor your son is contesting election this time. Where will he go?

Ans-He was going to join BJP. I prevailed upon him not to do so. He will take his own call. He is a matured person.

Anything you would like to suggest?

Ans- The Election Commission should do something to ensure that people holding top posts like PM or CM do not misuse their official position in election. The exemption given to them should be curtailed. Besides political parties, lot needs to be done to correct ticket distribution process. A primary system like one prevailing in US should be followed here in ticket distribution in which party presidents and top leadership should have miniscule role.