Former Gujarat CM Shankersinh Vaghela may return to Congress ahead of civic, 2027 polls

Former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela is in talks to return to the Congress, with the Gujarat unit backing his proposed re-entry and the party's central leadership yet to give its final approval, NDTV has reported. Vaghela, 86, has expressed interest in rejoining the party nearly nine years after he severed ties with the Congress. The state unit wants the process completed soon and is considering using the veteran leader as a campaigner for the upcoming Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation elections, according to NDTV. Asked about Vaghela's possible return, senior Congress leader Shaktisinh Gohil told NDTV, "Wait and watch. Everyone will get the right answer at the right time." The discussions come as the Congress prepares for the Gandhinagar civic elections and begins positioning itself for the 2027 Gujarat Assembly polls. Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda had earlier confirmed that talks with Vaghela and his supporters were underway, while indicating that the high command would take the final call. Vaghela's political career has spanned the Jana Sangh, BJP, Congress and several regional political formations. He was among the leaders who helped build the BJP's organisation in Gujarat before breaking away from the party in the mid-1990s. He formed the Rashtriya Janata Party in 1996 and became Gujarat chief minister with Congress support, serving from 1996 to 1997. His party subsequently merged with the Congress in 1998. During his years in the Congress, Vaghela served as Union textiles minister in the UPA government and later became Leader of the Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly. He left the Congress in 2017 ahead of the state Assembly election, after which he pursued other political formations. He later joined the NCP and, in 2024, launched the Praja Shakti Democratic Party. The party has since been reactivated as Vaghela prepares for the 2027 Gujarat election cycle.