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Wednesday, Aug 17, 2005

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National

Rebels rally behind Keshubhai Patel

Manas Dasgupta

60 MLAs support the former Chief Minister, says Rana; six MPs also seen in dissident camp

DISSIDENCE BREWING: Gujarat BJP leaders meet the former Chief Minister, Keshubhai Patel, in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. — PHOTO: PTI

GANDHINAGAR: In an apparent show of strength, dissidents in the Gujarat unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party assembled at the residence of the former Chief Minister, Keshubhai Patel, here on Tuesday ostensibly to "enquire" about his wife's health.

Mr. Patel and his wife, Lilaben, who underwent heart surgery in the United States, returned here on Monday after a long stay abroad.

Except for the former Union Minister, Kashiram Rana, and the former State Minister, Becharbhai Bhadani, no leader was prepared to give any political colour to the "spontaneous gathering." Mr. Rana admitted that even while calling on Mrs. Patel, the disgruntled MLAs and MPs were expressing their "sentiments against the present State leadership." Mr. Bhadani said the dissidents' demand for a change in leadership "still stands."

Other leaders, including MP Rajendrasinh Rana, claimed that it was a "mere social occasion" and no politics was involved. "At least I have come because of my long personal relations with Mr. Patel," he asserted.

As many as 44 MLAs called on the Patels while at least eight others spoke to them over telephone or sent fax messages.

Minister also present

Mr. Kashiram Rana claimed that 60 MLAs of the 129-member BJP Legislature Party had openly expressed their loyalty to Mr. Patel. Six MPs were also present but the key attraction was the presence of Baukubhai Ugad, a Minister in the Narendra Modi Cabinet. Another Minister, Jasumatiben Korat, who was inducted in the State Cabinet a fortnight ago, was among those who sent fax messages.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad international general secretary, Pravin Togadia, unhappy with Mr. Modi's support for BJP president L.K. Advani, and senior RSS leaders Pravin Maniar and Amrut Kadia also met Mr. Patel in the morning. Thousands of party workers also made a beeline to Mr. Patel's residence.

Talking to mediapersons, Mr. Patel said some leaders told him that "some attempts" were made to stop people from calling on him. If such attempts were made, "it is very wrong."

During his long political career, he had come to know thousands of people and it was "but natural" that they would come to see him. He could "clearly see people's dissatisfaction about the goings-on" in the State. Mr. Kashiram Rana said he would again try to call on Mr. Advani to brief him about the "sentiments" of the party workers.

BJP MLA from Vadodara, Yogesh Patel, in a letter to Mr. Modi not only expressed his "anguish" over the non-performance of the Government, but also made it clear that he was siding with the dissidents because he was "unable to answer questions being asked by the people."

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