The Hindu : National : 2 Congress MLAs join BJP

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Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007
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2 Congress MLAs join BJP

Manas Dasgupta

In the face of dissidence in the party, Narendra Modi turns the tide

AHMEDABAD: In the face of heightened dissident activities within the ruling BJP, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has turned the tide against the Congress netting at least two of its members of the Assembly in his party.

Besides a former MLA, two sitting Congress MLAs from south Gujarat formally joined the BJP on Tuesday in the presence of Mr. Modi during a fishermen convention at Billimora in Navsari district. Manish Gilitwala, representing Surat east constituency in the Assembly, and Shankar Varli, who was elected from Umbergaon, remained present on the dais with Mr. Modi and were later “blessed” by the Chief Minister for joining the BJP.

While a third Congress MLA, Nimaben Acharya, from Gandhidham in Kutch district, though still in the Congress, had since long been associated with the BJP and was suspended from the party about a year ago. The State Congress leaders admit that it was only a matter of time when she would formally join the BJP.

The leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Arjun Modhvadia, while confirming that Mr. Gilitwala and Mr. Varli had deserted the party, denied a similar move by another Congress MLA, Prabhuva Manek, who also was believed to be on his way to the BJP. Mr. Manek was earlier elected from Dwarka in Jamnagar district as independent but in the last election, he was elected on the Congress ticket.

Both Mr. Modhvadia and Union Textile Minister Shankarsinh Waghela, claimed that Mr Gilitwala and Mr Varli joining the BJP would have “no impact” on the Congress. Mr. Modhvadia claimed that the party had been receiving a lot of complaints against the duo from the people and partymen in their respective constituencies of “poor performance” and the party had “almost decided” not to field them in the coming elections. It was because of the uncertainty of getting ticket that they had preferred to join the BJP, he said.

Encouraged by the Congress MLAs joining his party, Mr. Modi launched an onslaught on the BJP dissidents. Deviating from his usual attack on the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre, Mr. Modi, who so far was silent on the heightened dissident activities in the party, said only the “corrupt people” in his party were opposing him. The Chief Minister said their anger was directed at him because in his administration he was not allowing either the politicians or the bureaucrats to indulge in corrupt practices.

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