ELECTIONS '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ARCHIVES

Suresh Mehta quits Gujarat govt

The ongoing tussle between the 'moderate' and 'hardline' factions of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Gujarat today came to a boil with Industry Minister Suresh Mehta's resignation. But Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel refused to accept it.

While Mehta said he would not withdraw his resignation ''under any circumstances'', the chief minister said the minister will continue to remain in the post and hold the same portfolio.

Mehta, who returned to Gandhinagar from his home district of Kutch this afternoon, submitted his resignation letter to the chief minister at 1515 hours and announced it to the waiting reporters at 1545 hours. He also had a meeting with Patel again at 1600 hours.

Patel told the media that he had held detailed talks with the former chief minister and had decided not to accept the resignation. ''Mr Mehta will continue to be a minister and hold the portfolio of industry,'' he added.

The chief minister pointed out that Mehta was ''moved'' over the murder of his prominent supporter Bavji Jadeja, in Kutch district on Thursday. But Patel told Mehta that it was a ''local incident''.

Quoting Mehta, the chief minister said the industry minister had assured that he ''was not Mr Shankarsinh Vaghela'' (who had rebelled in September 1995 and became chief minister a year later, replacing Mehta).

Mehta, he said, had also assured him that he did not want to revolt nor leave the party.

Mehta, according to Patel, had merely expressed his ''feelings and anguish'' and had ''consented to remain in the post''. The minister was a ''good servant'' of the party and would strengthen both the state and the Central governments, the chief minister added.

However, when reporters rushed to Mehta for his comments on the chief minister's observations, he told them that he will continue to attend office and cabinet meetings ''as usual, as until I am relieved, as per the Constitution, I will have to remain a minister''. He, however, categorically said he was not going to withdraw his resignation ''under any circumstances''.

When asked if any more ministers or BJP MLAs had also supported him, Mehta refused to comment. He said he was not in touch with the party high command as ''I have taken the decision on my own''.

He said he was ''not against'' Keshubhai Patel's leadership nor intended to disturb the BJP government or the party of which he was a ''dutiful soldier''. Asked whether his step would not affect the BJP's chances in the forthcoming assembly election in Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Rajasthan, he remarked, ''I have taken care of it''.

Reiterating that he was not like Shankarsinh Vaghela, he said his politics was not meant for power. He also denied media reports that he had the support of 30 out of 117 BJP MLAs.

However, he said he had held discussions with his supporters, ''including ministers and MLAs'', at Gandhinagar today.

Mehta also said he had asked his supporters and colleagues not not to take any step that could weaken the party or the government.

He, however, stated that he had been ''disturbed'' from time to time right since his victory in the assembly elections six months ago. Referring to Jadeja's murder, he said such daylight murders demonstrated the deteriorating law and order situation and could not be tolerated. He said he will also continue to remain an MLA and assured the media that he would soon come out with ''more details of incidents that have taken place since the BJP government came to power''.

At his residence, several senior BJP leaders---including ministers Fakirbhai Vaghela and Vimal Shah, party's whip Bharat Barot and Sardar Sarovar Nigam Chairman Bhupendrasinh Chudasma --- were seen waiting for Mehta, in an apparent bid to persuade him to withdraw his resignation.

Earlier in the day, the chief minister was reported to have directed the Kutch superintendent of police to take stern action against those involved in the Jadeja murder case.

Following the murder, Mehta took up the issue with the chief minister on Friday and this meeting sparked off speculations that he had offered to resign. He also held a meeting of his supporters at an undisclosed place in Kutch yesterday.

UNI

Tell us what you think of this report