Gandhinagar: It has become almost a routine process for leader of opposition in Gujarat Shankersinh Vaghela to first make unclear/half clear statements or act in such style and later issue clarification. In latest Shankersinh yesterday unfollowed all on his social media handles twitter and facebook including Congress party and its vice president Rahul Gandhi and also removed tweets that were against BJP and its leaders. Shankersinh yesterday also told media persons at Bayad on camera that he might not contest upcoming assembly election.

Shankersinh’s such postures were covered by local TV media throughout yesterday and also covered in newspapers prominently today morning.

Today, the State party president Bharatsinh Solanki spoke to Shankersinh over phone call. It is learnt that Shankersinh was told, Delhi was keeping constant eye on Gujarat affairs and Shankersinh should immediately call media and issue a clarification.

Accordingly Shankersinh called media persons and clarified that he had unfollowed all on twitter, youtube and facebook and not only the Congress leaders. Shankersinh said he had asked his social media team to remove all negative references and not just the references that were against BJP. Vaghela said he had asked his team to do this in order to prevent misunderstanding, misuse and confusion.

Shankersinh said, ‘all negative tweets are removed. You may have them in your record but from my side, the negative tweets are officially deleted. I don’t follow anyone. It’s not personal. It’s zero following either or on both the sides.’

There were several social media handles pitching for Shankersinh as Gujarat Chief Minister. It is not clear whether these handles were operated by Shankersinh’s own team or his supporters. Shankersinh today told media persons, he has asked to stop all this.

Shankersinh said, ‘today my stand is only one and it is that of Congress’s stand.’

He added that he had made it clear recently that he was not in the race of becoming Chief Minister and the election in Gujarat will be contested under the leadership of Bharatsinh Solanki.

Shankersinh said blackmailing and bargaining is not his habit and he has been in political till date with self respect. He said this in reply to a question that whether he was doing all this to pressurize the Congress party.

Shankersinh said he had no differences with Bharatsinh and he had a phone talk with him just half an hour ago.

When asked about his retirement, Shankersinh asked counter question, ‘what was Churchill’s age?’ He said a political person can never retire from politics. He can be less active at the most.

Shankersinh expressed his displeasure about delay in candidate selection. He said Antony committee had given report favouring early selection of candidates. A candidate is party’s only weapon against BJP. Candidates should be selected a year before election.

Shankersinh said he has refused to contest upcoming assembly poll, rest party will decide. He said he has been one of very few politicians who have been member of Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha in lifetime.

Shankersinh rejected possibility of joining BJP. He said Amitbhai Shah had came to meet him on his own.

When asked whether Ahmed Patel can be the Chief Ministerial candidate of Gujarat Congress, Shankersinh said Ahmedbhai is very senior politician and he has done a lot for Congress and for Gujarat, he should not be dragged in controversy. He can not be Chief Ministerial candidate.

In question related to Prashant Kishor, Shankersinh Vaghela said, he wanted party to involve Prashant Kishor in Gujarat poll affair as Prashant Kishor could give neutral opinion based on the details collected from the ground. What happens otherwise is that politicians give report as per their own understanding, he added and said it’s party that has to decide.

It should be noted here that contrary to Shankersinh’s opinion, State party president Bharatsinh Solanki yesterday in party’s social media meet function opined that there’s no need for Prashant Kishor. Party’s cadre is smarter than Prashant Kishor.

Interestingly Vaghela had skipped this meeting. Vaghela had also recently skipped Congress’s Kinara Bachao Yatra public meets, important meeting of State Congress on booth strategy and Dang sammelan of tribal yatra.

DeshGujarat