Date:29/01/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/01/29/stories/2004012903331200.htm

National

Waghela to go ahead with `march-past'

By Our Special Correspondent

AHMEDABAD, JAN. 28. The Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Shankarsinh Waghela, has decided to go ahead with the march-past by his `Shakti Dal' tomorrow.

The formation of the Shakti Dal — which his critics described as `Danda Sena' — had caused a rebellion and almost all sections of the party, except his erstwhile Rashtriya Janata Party group, joined hands demanding his removal from the presidentship. Even the central leadership was forced to direct Mr. Waghela to ``stop'' all activities concerning the Shakti Dal, though he had claimed that the party president, Sonia Gandhi, had given her consent for its formation.

Mr. Waghela's detractors, led by the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Amarsinh Chaudhary, said the formation of the Shakti Dal, was alien to the Congress spirit and culture and it was against the party constitution. Mr. Waghela was building a ``personal force'' as part of his ``plan'' to quit the Congress and form another party or return to the BJP fold, they felt.

Mr. Waghela told mediapersons here today that he was going ahead with the scheduled march-past.