Former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela could be headed back to the Congress as political activity intensifies ahead of the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation elections and the 2027 Gujarat Assembly elections.

According to recent reports, Vaghela has held discussions with senior Gujarat and central Congress leaders, including Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda, AICC general secretary in-charge of Gujarat Randeep Singh Surjewala and former Union minister Bharatsinh Solanki.

Vaghela has indicated that he is prepared to return to the Congress, although he has said the move would follow a meeting with Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

The Gujarat Congress leadership has reportedly backed his proposed return, while final approval from the party's central command is still pending.

The discussions come at a politically significant time in Gujarat.

The Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation elections are approaching, while the state is also moving towards the 2027 Gujarat Assembly elections.

Gujarat Congress president Amit Chavda recently confirmed that discussions were underway with Vaghela and his supporters. He also indicated that the party was in talks with other political figures who could potentially join the Congress platform.

NDTV reported that the Gujarat Congress unit wants Vaghela to join soon and is considering using his political experience and network during the upcoming Gandhinagar civic election campaign.

However, the exact role Vaghela could play in the party has not been formally announced.

Vaghela has had a long and varied political career spanning several decades.

He began his political journey with the Jana Sangh and later became associated with the BJP's early political expansion in Gujarat. He broke away from the BJP in the mid-1990s and formed the Rashtriya Janata Party (RJP).

Vaghela became Gujarat Chief Minister in 1996, heading a government that received Congress support. His RJP subsequently merged with the Congress in 1998.

During his years with the Congress, Vaghela served as a Union Cabinet minister in the UPA government and also served as the Leader of Opposition in the Gujarat Assembly.

He eventually left the Congress in 2017, ending his association with the party after nearly two decades.

After leaving the Congress, Vaghela continued to remain active in Gujarat politics.

He later joined the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and subsequently moved towards building his own political platform.

In 2024, Vaghela launched the Praja Shakti Democratic Party (PSDP) and subsequently revived its activities ahead of the 2027 Gujarat Assembly elections.

Recent reports said he had planned an aggressive political campaign beginning October 2, creating additional attention around the possibility of his return to the Congress.

His latest discussions with Congress therefore represent another potential change in his political alignment.

Vaghela has publicly linked his willingness to return to the Congress with the objective of challenging the BJP government in Gujarat.

The Indian Express reported that he said he was ready to join Congress and had already discussed the possibility with several senior party leaders. At the same time, he made clear that his return would follow a meeting with Rahul Gandhi.

These comments indicate that discussions have moved beyond speculation, although the formal decision remains with the Congress leadership.

Despite the reports of advanced discussions, Vaghela has not formally rejoined the Congress as of September 30, 2026.

The Gujarat unit has reportedly supported his return, but the final approval from the central leadership is still awaited. Congress leaders have also avoided announcing a definitive timeline for his re-entry.

This means the political development remains a possible Congress return rather than a completed party switch.

The immediate focus is likely to remain on the Congress leadership's decision and Vaghela's proposed meeting with Rahul Gandhi.

If the return is approved, Vaghela could become part of the Congress's preparations for the Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation elections and its broader campaign ahead of the 2027 Gujarat Assembly polls.

For now, however, the formal announcement is still awaited.