Congress General Secretary Mahendrasinh Suratia, who was upset with the decision, said, ``At a time when the Congress should be introspecting the causes for the poll debacle and devising strategy to regain foothold in the tribal-dominated constituency, there are some senior Congress leaders who, instead of contesting the elections, want to support Dr Mahendra Shah.''

But Chaudhary, when contacted, said that the decision was nothing unusual. ``It has been the tradition in Vyara not to contest local body election on party symbol,'' he claimed.

Chaudhary, while claiming that he wanted to support Dr Shah as ``he was a doing good job'', said that party had still not taken a final decision. ``We are still assessing the situation and the final decision will be taken after the party observer submits his report.'' he said.

Even Vyara Congress president Hansmukh Bhavsar, who is also an elected member of Nagarpalika, was against the Congress contesting the election on the party symbol. ``Local body elections are fought on local issues. So the Nagarpalika election should not be fought on party symbol,'' Bhavsar contended.

When asked what would he do if the Congress decided to contest the election on Party symbol, Bhavsar said, ``I will prefer to be in Dr Shah's group. I will not contest on a Congress ticket even if the party decides to expel me''.

But the move has visibly disappointed second-rank leaders of the party who seem to see a bleak future ahead for the party. ``Some senior leaders want the party to support such opportunists (Dr Shah) which is not acceptable to us,'' asserted Sanjay Patwal, Youth Congress leader, who along with Congress observer Khumansinh Vasia, visited Vyara on Friday.

This was confirmed by BJP district committee member Gunwantbhai, who said ``Though Dr Shah claimed to be an independent he had thrown his weight behind the BJP candidate Mansinh Patel in the just concluded Lok Sabha elections in return for the party's support for him in the Nagarpalika elections.''

Both Suratia and Patwal contended that the party should field its candidate as out of 27 wards, 15 wards were dominated by tribals and other backward classes who could ensure Congress victory in a triangle fight.

Vyara-based Congress leader Dr Markand Bhatt, seconded their views, warning that if the Congress decided against contesting the election on party symbol and backing Dr Shah instead, second-rank Congress leaders could join the BJP.

But, according to GPCC vice-president Kadir Pirzad, if Dr Shah could support the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections, he could also support the Congress. However, Dr Shah, when contacted, ruled out alliance with any party. ``We are independent and there is also no question of seat adjustment or alliance with the Congress party,'' he clarified, adding that he was however not averse to take ``support'' if any party wanted to support his group.

In the late 70s and early 80s, Dr Shah's group had vehemently opposed Amarsinh Chaudhary because he was the protege of South Gujarat Congress veteran Zinabhai Darji, who was instrumental in giving the land to landless tillers. This had anger Dr Shah, who is one of landlords of the area. However, after 1985, when Chaudhary turned against Darji, Dr Shah become close to him.