Haven't joined a party yet: DG Vanzara

NEW DELHI: Will the upcoming Gujarat elections see entry of the state’s most infamous police officer, DG Vanzara, into politics? The former chief of anti-terrorism squad does say he is popular but the BJP denies it is bringing him aboard.

“I have not joined any party. The next step — of getting a ticket or contesting from where — comes only after that,” Vanzara told ET upfront, in an attempt to play down the speculation.

But in the same breath, he hinted to his popularity. “I am already in the public life. I am connecting with the people of Gujarat. There is massive response to my public meetings. People from all castes and communities have supported me, stood by me and are still with me. People of Gujarat have accepted me, are happy with me and acknowledge my services to Gujarat and country. People have a positive opinion about me.”


Vanzara contesting as an independent seems a certainty.

The former officer spent eight years in jail as an accused in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Ishrat Jahan encounter cases. He has been discharged in the former case but still faces the latter. “People in Gujarat support me as I fought against terrorism which is a national menace. So when you fight terrorism, you do contribute to national security,” Vanzara told ET.

While in Jail, he wrote a letter attacking the Gujarat BJP government for not defending him adequately.

There are news reports now that BJP may field Vanzara given his capacity to attract masses and making the election a ‘nationalist vs anti-nationalist’ discourse. Gujarat BJP leaders, however, told ET there is “no discussion” over Vanzara.

Vanzara is a tribal, a community with significant vote-share in Gujarat. Last month, Vanzara said at a public event that politics was not untouchable for him. He has extensively toured Gujarat since his release from jail last year for felicitation events – he had said last year that people wish him to contest the 2017 assembly polls and he will fulfil their wish when the time comes.