Vaghela's exit may cast a shadow on Ahmed Patel's chances in RS poll

Gujarat Congress stalwart Shankarsinh Vaghela's decision to quit the party may cast a shadow on the prospects of Sonia Gandhi's confidante Ahmed Patel's re-election to the Rajya Sabha.

According to sources in the party, Vaghela has the support of around a dozen MLAs, and if they follow suit, it may put into jeopardy Patel's chances of securing a fourth Rajya Sabha term from his home state.

Patel is Congress president Sonia Gandhi's political secretary.

Congress has 57 MLAs in Gujarat and its candidate would require votes of 47 of them to get elected.

The RS poll comes close on the heels of the presidential election which exposed chinks in the Congress armour as the joint opposition's nominee Meira Kumar could garner votes of only 49 MLAs.

Vaghela, while announcing his decision of quitting the party, said he would resign from the Assembly only after the August 8 RS poll, seen as a veiled warning that he would try to ensure the defeat of the Congress candidate.

Patel's current term ends on August 18. Though the party is yet to announce its candidate for the upcoming elections, it is seen as almost certain that it would be Patel.

Congress general secretary in-charge of Gujarat Ashok Gehlot said it was the moral responsibility of the former chief minister to help its candidate get elected as he still represented the party in the Assembly.

"He has resigned, but he has been with the Congres for 20 years. It is his moral responsibility to help in the victory of the Congress candidate as he continues to be a party MLA," Gehlot told PTI.

He asserted Congress was in a "comfortable" position as it had the support of all 57 MLAs.

The filing of nominations for the biennial election started today.

The terms of BJP Rajya Sabha MPs from Gujarat Dilip Pandya and Smriti Irani also end on August 18.

Gehlot, a former Rajasthan chief minister termed Vaghela's decision to quit Congress a "blunder".

He said it was unfortunate that he quit the party just before the assembly elections, saying Congress had rewarded him for his work by giving him important positions.

In a body blow to the Congress in Gujarat, Vaghela, one of its tallest in the state, today announced he was quitting the party. He enjoys considerable support in North Gujarat.