Shankarsinh Vaghela, the former chief minister of Gujarat, has signalled his intent to re‑join the Congress party after the state unit granted its approval, but the central leadership has yet to give final clearance—
Vaghela, 86, first burst onto the political scene as a founding member of the BJP’s Gujarat unit, later breaking away in 1996 to launch the Rashtriya Janata Party. He served as chief minister for a year with Congress backing, then merged his party into the Congress in 1998, where he spent 15 years as a cabinet minister and opposition leader before leaving in 2017. His return would therefore mark a dramatic political comeback after nearly a decade away from the party’s fold—
When asked by NDTV, senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil said, “Wait and watch; the right answer will come at the right time,” hinting that the decision is still under deliberation at the national level. Vaghela’s supporters in the state have been pushing for his name to appear on the campaign trail ahead of the municipal polls, hoping his name recognition will swing votes in Gandhinagar—
For a resident of the Kankaria ward, Rahul Mehta, the possibility of Vaghela’s return feels like a return to a familiar face in a time of political uncertainty: “If he can bring the same energy he had in the '90s, we might see a shift in how people vote,” he told reporters. His presence could also influence the larger Gujarat assembly elections, where the Congress is looking for a fresh face to counter the BJP’s dominance—
The final hurdle remains the Congress central command’s approval. Once granted, Vaghela is expected to be positioned as a key campaigner for the municipal elections slated for next month, and his involvement could signal a broader strategy to revive the party’s fortunes in Gujarat. The decision is anticipated by the end of this week, after which the Congress will formally announce his re‑entry into the party ranks.