Advani likely to contest 2019 Lok Sabha poll from Gandhinagar, says Vaghela

Veteran BJP leader LK Advani may stand from Gandhinagar in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, according to former Gujarat chief minister Shankersinh Vaghela, who said Advani told him so when they met. Vaghela spoke to the media on Tuesday.

Vaghela’s own plans

Vaghela, a former Union minister who left the Congress in July 2017, said he had not yet decided whether he would contest in 2019 and had no plans for now to join the NCP or another party. He said he was open to meeting Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar or anyone else.

He said he would spend the coming months trying to bring together all forces opposed to the BJP before the general election, arguing that the country needed a second front rather than a third front. He said he had met leaders across the political spectrum in recent months and claimed nearly every regional party was unhappy with the central government.

Vaghela noted that while a grand alliance of regional parties was being discussed, no third front existed yet, since regional parties opposed the BJP but also opposed one another. He said he would travel to Delhi in two days to meet anti-BJP parties, stressing that the anti-BJP vote should not be split.

Criticism of the Centre

Vaghela said it was time for people to ask the government for a report card on the promises it made before the 2014 election. He held the Prime Minister responsible for fuel prices and the falling value of the rupee, and asked why petrol and diesel could not be sold for between 50 and 60 rupees, saying it was possible if the government had the will.

What happened next

The 2019 Lok Sabha election was held from 11 April to 19 May 2019. The BJP won 303 of 543 seats and Narendra Modi began a second term on 30 May 2019.

See also: constituencies and political leaders.

Originally published on 19 September 2018. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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