Aiming to replace BJP in Gujarat in ’27: ex-chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela

How did the idea of a new party come about?

We decided to create a party of like-minded people. We had floated ‘Praja Shakti’, and ‘Democratic’ was added by the Election Commission. It means a party with power to the people… like China…like my government of one year (1996-97) as CM of Gujarat. Democracy should mean meeting without any appointment, security, or red beacon car… We were to launch at my residence and enrol with 182 assembly constituencies desks set up but then came the news of (political secretary to former Congress president Sonia Gandhi) Ahmed Patel’s demise after Covid (in November 2020).

We then postponed the official launch. Later, (I thought) maybe there was a possibility of talks with the Congress but nothing worked out. I gave time and priority to the Congress but they were not able to understand that we did not want anything but we wanted to give something.
Recently, at the condolence meeting following the death of BJP MLA Amitbhai P Shah’s wife, workers came to meet and greet me. This means that BJP workers are hungry for affection. Wherever we went, everyone said: “Please do something, we are not happy with the BJP government, we are not happy with the Opposition too.” There is a political vacuum in Gujarat and keeping this in mind, and the pressure to do something, we launched.

Some refer to your party as the B team of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)…

Those who call us the B team or C team, (I want to ask) with more than 162 seats in the (182-member) Assembly, what can we do for the BJP? There is discontent in the BJP – The high command says “we have the remote control, what we say you have to follow…or you will be replaced… get lost”. Even the speeches of the CM are prepared in advance, there is no azaadi (freedom)…

The party claims to be value-based and cadre-based… but rapists, bootleggers are being felicitated…Even Congress leaders who have hurled the worst abuses at BJP leaders are welcomed. Nitish Kumar (Bihar CM) who said that I will die but not join the BJP…BJP (also) said a similar thing…what happened?

Today nobody in BJP is indispensable, everything is done through contract and money.

You also had a role in the Kshatriya protests…

I did not attend any of the meetings. In fact, they (the agitating leaders) came to me and asked me to talk to Delhi. I called the PMO saying that this agitation is flaring up and could turn negative (for the BJP) so if possible, change the candidate. (The protests began on a remark by BJP’s Rajkot seat candidate and former Union minister Purshottam Rupala). I suggested, you give the ticket to his (Rupala’s) wife, brother, anyone. I had only conveyed this to Narendrabhai (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) and (he) said the party president will decide. This was my role and second role was not to turn the agitation into a Patel vs Kshatriya (fight).

Retrospectively, do you feel the agitation had no impact as there was no electoral gain out of it?

For instance, the Patidar agitation PAAS (Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti) had dum (steam) and the Congress was very close to forming the government, so the government agreed to their quota demands. In Kshatriya agitation, the senior leaders would come out at night and convince people to vote for BJP. They played a dual role. Though the agitation did not yield any result it brought the community, especially women and the youth together…

You have also elected a Kshatriya (Rajendrasinh Rathod) as the Praja Shakti party president. Why?

I believe that we are not responsible for the community to which we belong. I am a Kshatriya for which I am not to be held responsible; I have to act like a Kshatriya, though. In public life, community is immaterial. My experience in Gujarat is that being a Rajput you are known and supported by the community. Communities have their own interests. For instance, the entire Patel community became anti-BJP during the PAAS agitation. Similarly, the same Kshatriya community, which entirely supported the ruling party, became anti-BJP. It depends on the issue and when to raise it.

What will be your first test (following the formation of the new party)?

Sixteen seats of the Banaskantha district taluka panchayats, two in Kheda district taluka panchayat, Gandhinagar district panchayat, 80 nagarpalikas and 6,000 gram panchayats: so, keeping 2027 assembly elections in sight, whatever opportunity we get, we will contest. Candidates for Assembly elections will be announced a year in advance. There will be two persons assigned to the candidate who will look after their public outreach, like attending a besna (condolence meeting), helping a student get scholarship etc.

We don’t want cheaters. We will say nirbhay bano (be fearless) like (late PM) Morarji Desai said during the Emergency…we will also say daro mat…Thus, our symbol is the javelin thrower. It is a free symbol by the Election Commission.

Why javelin thrower, though?

We are going to create an army, an organisation, which will be with the candidates…Whoever it (the complaint) may be against —government or private persons — we will assure warmth, security and support to people.

What are the major differences between the Rashtriya Janata Party (RJP) and PSDP?

The RJP was because of the BJP. The government lasted a year but was a historical one. Our target was to put brakes on the BJP… Whatever happened, the Congress withdrew its support untimely. Had we been together at that time, the BJP would not have been here.

You had also approached Sonia Gandhi, to rejoin Congress…

I wanted to tell Soniaji that I will leave Congress (in 2017) but due to her ill-health, I did not. She had a lot of faith in me.

But you met (AICC general secretary) Raghu Sharma…

Yes I met Raghu and Ashok Gehlot too. I was in Congress for 20 years. I know the kundali (horoscope) of both the BJP and the Congress. When I joined the Congress, Madhavrao Scindia was the (AICC) general secretary and he briefed Soniaji about my entry…Few parties follow this system… I share a close rapport with Madam Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi but every party has its own system.

How important is colour in party symbols?

Colour has a psychological impact. For instance, green is considered the colour of Muslims, saffron for Hindus. Red for PSDP symbolises kranti (revolution), China … The turban (designed for PSDP leaders) is originally from Mewar in which a green strip has been added for minorities.

My focus is more on tribals and OBCs on the basis of which we are dreaming of forming the government …this dream will keep us awake.

What will be your role in the PSDP?

I will play the main role… We will have young leaders in positions and I will be there to guide them. As per my understanding, the BJP will not create a problem for us as long as I am there.

And Congress?

No way. I was in the Congress. No BJP MLA has spoken against me; till date, there is affection for me.

What impressed you about China?

China’s main slogan is people power. If the leader is right, he will share the power.

When you were in the RJP, you also attempted to create a national alliance with Mulayam Singh Yadav (Samajwadi Party) and Lalu Prasad (RJD)?

Buta Singh (Former Union home minister), Mulayam Singh (Former Uttar Pradesh CM), Ram Vilas Paswan (Former Union minister) and Lalu too came here but to make this work, there should be a platform in Delhi too. We merged with the Congress so that the BJP does not gain. After merging, we left the RJP behind but the Congress never forgot that we are from RJP.

If you win seats in Assembly elections, will you ally with the INDIA bloc or BJP?

Today, if you have to fight against any government, it is the BJP, its excesses and arrogance… So whatever will be done will be against the BJP. We will not do an anti-Congress or anti-BJP campaign, no abusing leaders like Modi and Amit Shah. No abusing BJP either. One should talk about issues – be it unemployment, corruption or inflation.

If the party fails in 2027, what will be your next move?

The show must go on. I am aiming to replace the BJP in 2027…It is not necessary to have a big brand image but (one should) select good leaders.

You give examples of Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) often…what influence has he had on you?

I believe that bureaucrats can never be politicians. Be it Manmohanji (former PM Manmohan Singh), H M Patel (former civil servant and union minister), Kejriwal or anyone. For leadership, you need to have Lalu (Prasad) quality.

Do you see yourself as a Lalu or a Sharad Pawar (NCP [SP])? What role do you see for yourself in Gujarat politics?

I have my own qualities. I will fill the political vacuum in Gujarat.