Gujarat leader Shankersinh Vaghela quits congress party

Leader of Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly, Shankarsinh Vaghela, on Friday said he was expelled from the Congress '24 hours ago'.

He also said he would not join the BJP.

He made the announcement at a public meeting of his supporters held here on his 77th birthday, amid speculation that the veteran leader was all set to break ranks with the Congress, which he had joined about two decades ago after quitting the BJP.The former Gujarat chief minister has been at loggerheads with the Congress leadership for quite some time over his demand that he be projected as the chief ministerial face in the poll-bound state.

The former chief minister has been at loggerheads with the state Congress leadership, which refused to accede to his demand that he be projected as the chief ministerial face of the party in the Gujarat Assembly polls due later this year