Keshubhai brings anti-Modi crusade to Delhi

Former Chief Minister of Gujarat Keshubhai Patel flew into New Delhi from Ahmedabad on Tuesday and had meetings with senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Dr Murali Manohar Joshi.

A source said that he complained about the style of functioning of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who is out to crush all opposition against him.

He, however, could not meet BJP president Nitin Gadkari, as he was away in Pune, busy with the preparations of his son's wedding on June 24.

"If Jaitelyji (opposition leader in the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley) is back from holidays abroad, I would be meeting him as well. I have brought a written statement and would hand it over to each one of them before telling the media about its contents," he said soon after his arrival in Delhi.

The differences between the powerful Patel leader and Modi seem to be growing every day. Modi and Patel would face each other soon when they attend some important meetings scheduled for later this week.

Earlier, several anti- Modi leaders including Kanshiram Rana, Suresh Mehta, Nalin Bhatt and Gordhan Zadafia had met at Patel's Gandhinagar residence.

Patel's decision to visit New Delhi and meet top party leaders was reportedly taken after this meeting.

This is not the first time that he has complained to the party leadership against Modi, but each time, he has not been able to persuade the top brass to replace Modi by him, or someone else from his group.

"As far as Modi is concerned, he does not give much attention to such trips of his arch-rivals to Delhi," said a source.