Congress leader Shankarsinh Vaghela
Congress leader Shankarsinh Vaghela today sparked a buzz with a speech for Narendra Modi blending praise with pointed digs at India's next prime minister.
"People have voted for you with great expectations. You will not be the PM of BJP but the PM of entire India. In 1984 it was two, now it is 282 and the credit goes to Narendra Bhai," Mr Vaghela, the Leader of Opposition in Gujarat, said at a special session called for Mr Modi's farewell as the state's Chief Minister.
The Congress leader went on to draw a comparison between Mr Modi and former prime minister Morarji Desai, saying "two people became Prime Minister via Godhra".
"Morarji Desai was an officer in Godhra and he was shifted after allegations of bias. You also worked as a pracharak (member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) in Godhra and Vadodara.," Mr Vaghela said.
Mr Modi will be sworn in as Prime Minister on Monday, following his BJP's massive victory in the national election.
Mr Vaghela quit the BJP in 1996 after the party decided to make Keshubhai Patel, Mr Modi's predecessor, the Chief Minister. He floated his own party, but joined the Congress two years later. He contested the national election from Sabarkantha but lost to the BJP.
His speech on Mr Modi today had people commenting how "you can take a man out of BJP but not the BJP out of a man."
Mr Modi looked amused as Mr Vaghela said, "I request you...since you have a majority, now deliver the promises you made in the manifesto like building a Ram temple within the Constitutional framework. It is time to walk the talk."
He added, "Modi first asked for 60 days. Then he asked for 120 months which is 10 years. Now don't ask for 60 years...give a good outcome in 5 years..." The rest of the house laughed.
His comments, tweeted from Mr Modi's official account, rapidly circulated on social media.
"This is very confusing! Is Vaghela in Congress or BJP? He wants Modi to build Ram Temple, UCC (Uniform Civil Code) and ban beef exports," tweeted Khaishk.