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Suresh Mehta quits BJP

Special Correspondent

— Photo: PTI

The former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Suresh Mehta, talks to the media in Ahmedabad after resigning from the BJP on Saturday.

AHMEDABAD: Bitter over the party high command ignoring the senior leaders, the former Gujarat Chief Minister, Suresh Mehta, on Saturday resigned from the primary membership of the Bharatiya Janata Party he was associated with for over five decades.

Accusing the central leadership of having “surrendered” to the present incumbent, Narendra Modi, he said his fight was only against “one individual.” He said he had nothing against the party.

Mr. Mehta blamed Mr. Modi’s “political mentor” and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, L.K. Advani, for the present state of affairs. He said it was because of Mr. Advani’s support that the high command did not initiate any action against Mr. Modi and reduced other senior leaders of the party to a humiliating situation. He said in the last three years he and others opposed to Mr. Modi’s style of functioning in the State Bharatiya Janata Party had also approached the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The veteran leader every time redirected them to Mr. Advani. At Mr. Advani’s behest, the party refrained from even restraining Mr. Modi, he claimed.

Mr. Mehta said he had no plans to join any other political party right now and hinted that he would consider floating a regional party with the support of some “right-minded” people.

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