MJP may switch chief ministers to keep Congress happy

Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela may be replaced by some other legislator of the ruling Mahagujarat Janata Party in Gujarat. This is part of a plan to placate the Congress which withdrew support to the government on Monday.

An indication to this effect was given by Vaghela at a press briefing after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday afternoon.

He said he was not averse to a change in the leadership if the Congress continued to support the ruling MJP. Vaghela said he was in constant touch with central and state leaders of the Congress party and hoped that something positive would emerge.

Vaghela said he would hold a meeting with state Congress leaders on Thursday to discuss and work out the modalities. He said he was not after power, but had become the chief minister under certain compulsions.

He said he would call a party meeting on Thursday to review the political situation and to discuss the issue of a change of leadership. He said a special cabinet meeting would be held on Friday to discuss and decide the future course of action.

Vaghela said he was prepared to change the MJP leadership if the Congress took back the letter withdrawing support submitted to the governor. He also said he would not stop any MJP legislator from joining any other party.

Asked what the Congress had against him, the chief minister said perhaps it had something to do with his style of functioning. He did not elaborate. Vaghela said he was not leaving public life and politics after stepping down from office, but would continue to work for the poor and the downtrodden.