Political parties come and go but it is the people in the party who matter, said former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela on Sunday. The former CM said this while addressing the gathering during the inauguration of Praja Shakti Democratic Party’s state office in Gandhinagar’s Adalaj. During the function, the induction ceremony of party’s newly-elected president Riddhirajsinh Parmar was also held.
Though Praja Shakti Democratic Party (PSDP) was established in 2020, it was officially recognised as a party after receiving a formal approval from the Election Commission of India in 2021 while the State Election Commission recognised the party in 2023.
The party is preparing to contest the local body as well as 2027 Assembly elections. During the event, Vaghela said he is standing with the Praja Shakti Democratic Party based on the people’s requests so that they can be heard.
“Political parties come and go but it is the people in the party who matter. The Janata Party, which formed the government in the 1970s … where is that party today? Where are those other parties? But it is important (in) whose hands the reins of public life remain. Party’s future is a matter of imagination… a matter of governance,” he said.
“We have not come within the public … to become MPs or MLAs. It is in the hands of the party to either work for people or keep them in fear or under inflation. Everyone says that politics is dirty but it is not the politics…it is the people who are bad. Parties today run on match-fixing. From one party you join another party against which you have fought. Public in Gujarat are fed up with the political party that has harmed its own people and put those (who are) accused in Ponzi scheme, Khyati hospital… on top and felicitate bootleggers,” Vaghela said while talking about the recent cases that have grabbed the limelight in the state.
The Khyati Hospital racket involving issuing of fraudulent health cards to ineligible persons was exposed following deaths of two Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) beneficiaries at Khyati Multispecialty Hospital in Ahmedabad on November 11 due to unnecessary angioplasty procedures.
The alleged BZ Ponzi scam was unearthed in November when the CID found suspicious transactions in the bank accounts of Sabarkantha-based BZ Financial Services and BZ Group’s “CEO” Bhupendrasinh Zala, who has been accused of defrauding the people by offering 36 per cent annual return on deposits.
Talking about the workers joining his new party, Vaghela said that “cheaters and criminals are not wanted” in it but “need qualified politicians” : “I request not to include cheaters in the party. Today people are fed up with the government. If people have any issues with anyone, be it in government or police or anyone, they can contact our party at any time. Our office will remain open 24 hours. The government might torture us but we will work for people. Well qualified, people with social status and respect are invited (to join the party),” the former CM added.
Parmar shares vision for party
In his inaugural address, PSDP chief Riddhirajsinh Parmar outlined his vision for the party’s future. “This is a party of the people, where there is no leader’s speech but direct dialogue with the people and a vision to solve their problems. In order to meet a party official… one needs to take an appointment… but this will not happen in our party,” Parmar said.
During the event, leader Ketanbhai Patel stated that Lord Ram’s temple was forcibly completed ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. “This is the reason Lord Ram has awakened Shankar (Shankarsinh Vaghela). Today everyone is using the name of God for political purposes, and instead of good governance, misgovernance has taken over. With the inspiration and blessings of God, the party was established and even at the age of 84, Bapu (Vaghela) decided to bring everyone together,” Ketanbhai Patel said.
Referring to the BJP government in Gujarat and Centre, former Rajya Sabha MP and tribal leader Kanjibhai Patel said that the double-engine government should be removed. “If we are brave and take a step forward, it is not difficult,” he added.
After breaking away from the BJP in 1996, Vaghela founded the Rashtriya Janata Party, which later merged with the Congress. Ahead of the 2017 Gujarat Assembly elections, he formed the Janvikalp Party.
In 2019, Vaghela aligned with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and in 2021, he expressed interest in rejoining Congress ahead of Gujarat’s local body elections.
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