 | « Back to article | Print this article |
Key Gujarat dissident leader Keshubhai Patel on Wednesday arrived in New Delhi with his supporters to highlight dissident activities in Gujarat before the Bharatiya Janata Party central leadership, which, however, ruled out the replacement of Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
Patel, who had organised a show of strength at his residence in Gandhinagar on Tuesday, on arrival told reporters that 'all is not well' with the Gujarat BJP.
In a veiled attack on Modi, he said the alleged attempts to prevent the legislators from meeting him on Tuesday exposed the 'frightening mindset of some of those in power'.
Although dissident leaders including Suresh Mehta, Kashiram Rana, A K Patel and some MLAs including Gordhan Zadafiya met among themselves, they did not meet the party central leadership.
Meanwhile, in a rebuff to the dissidents, party general secretary in charge of Gujurat Om Mathur asserted 'Modi is doing a fantastic job. There is no questuion of replacing him'.
The activities of the dissidents found a passing mention at a meeting of top party leaders in New Delhi on Wednesday evening.
However, they appeared to play down the developments and backed Modi with BJP vice president M Venkaiah Naidu claiming, "We are not aware of any such demands (to remove Modi)".
"If there are problems or suggestions, we will keep meeting and discussing them," he said.
On Keshubhai Patel's arrival in Delhi, Naidu said, "He is a former chief minister and member of Parliament. He has come back with his wife from abroad. Nobody has told us about any problem."