In 1996, he had beaten the dust as a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Godhra, but more than a decade later, Shankersinh Vagehla is back on the Godhra battleground, well aware that Narendra Modi could ambush him yet again.
Shankersinh Vaghela is on the campaign trail in Godhra, fighting not against the BJP candidate Pratabsingh Chauhan, but against Narendra Modi himself.
"This time it is a clear face-off. I am ready for it. My party is standing behind me solidly as against the BJP," said Vaghela.
The face-off that goes beyond politics.
Thirteen years, when Vaghela was in the BJP, he lost the Godhra seat after Narendra Modi mobilised the Sadhu samaj against him.
Again in 2009, Modi is taking a special interest in the Vaghela contest.
"The mood here changes when Narendra Modi campaigns here," said BJP Prabatsinh Chauhan.
Shankersinh Vaghela won from the adjoining Kapdwanj constituency last elections, but post delimitations, that seat has been wiped out. Several assembly segments from that constituency have now gone to the Godhra constituency, a reason why Vagehla chose Godhra as the political battleground, knowing very well that Narendra Modi would try to ambush him yet again.
Vaghela's relying on the work done by the UPA for the poor and the tribals in this region. Modi in turn will draw on the caste factor.
The battle lines are drawn and the Vaghela-Modi war is sure to produce fireworks.
