Former Gujarat CM Shankar Singh Vaghela: “Had We Been in BJP, Modi Might Not Have Become PM”

Ahmedabad, Gujarat: Veteran politician and former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankar Singh Vaghela has made a striking statement about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rise, blending candid political reflection with personal insight. At 85, Vaghela, who played a key role in shaping Gujarat’s political landscape, claimed in a recent interview that had he and his supporters been in the BJP, Modi’s path to the Chief Ministership and eventually the Prime Minister’s office might not have materialized.

Vaghela, who famously rebelled against the BJP in 1995 with 47 legislators and later became Gujarat CM with Congress support, emphasized that he and his cohort operate with “self-respect” in politics. “We do not pledge our principles for personal gain. We came into public life for the people, not for ourselves,” he remarked.

On his own tenure as CM, Vaghela clarified that assuming office was not a personal ambition. “The government formation happened due to pressure from legislators who did not want to return home before their term ended,” he said, recalling his pivotal role in Gujarat’s last major political revolt.

Despite his criticism of the BJP and Gujarat model, Vaghela maintains cordial personal ties with PM Modi. This was evident when he attended the final rites of Modi’s mother, Heera Bai, in December 2022, showcasing the enduring personal rapport between the two leaders.

Known in Gujarat politics as “Bapu,” Vaghela’s career spans the Jan Sangh, BJP, Janata Party, and Congress, including two attempts at forming his own political party. From October 23, 1996, to October 27, 1997, he served as Gujarat’s Chief Minister, a period remembered for his bold, independent political decisions.