Shankersinh Vaghela

Who is Shankersinh Vaghela?

Shankersinh Vaghela is an Indian politician and was a member of the 14th Lok Sabha of India and served as the Union Cabinet Minister of Textiles from 2004 to 2009. He represented the Kapadvanj constituency of Gujarat and is a member of the Indian National Congress. He was also Chief Minister of Gujarat from 1996 to 1997.

Vaghela was born in Vasan, Gandhinagar District, in Gujarat. Shankersingh Vagela was an active member of RSS, Before joining BJP. He was elected to the 6th Lok Sabha in 1977; from 1977 to 1980 he was Vice-President of the Janata Party in Gujarat, and from 1980 to 1991 he was General Secretary and President of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Gujarat. He was a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1984 to 1989. In 1989 he was elected to the 9th Lok Sabha, and in 1991 he was re-elected to the 10th Lok Sabha. From 1996 to 1997 he was a member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. He rebelled from BJP, floated his own party- Rashtriya Janta Party, made his own government and served as Chief Minister of Gujarat. Later he joined the Congress. He was elected to the 13th Lok Sabha in 1999 and re-elected to the 14th Lok Sabha in 2004, becoming Union Cabinet Minister of Textiles on May 23, 2004. In 2009, he was candidate from Panchmahal for 15th Lok Sabha, but he lost to Prabhansinh Chouhan of BJP. Ahead of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly polls in 2012, he was appointed the Chairman of Campaign Committee. He contested from the Kapadvanj constituency and won. he is currently the leader of Opposition in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly. He has also served as the president of GPCC.