In an interview to The Indian Express last week, Patel said that there was no truth in reports that about 45 BJP MLAs were unhappy with his style of functioning and had complained to the party leadership.

``Someone is deliberately trying to create a controversy over me as chief minister,'' he said, adding, ``I believe that it is persons from the Opposition.'' Referring to rumours about his being replaced because of ill-health, he declared, ``You can see that I am hale and hearty.''

Political observers pointed out that during the Shankersinh Vaghela episode, too, Patel had been caught on the wrong foot. He was in the US when Vaghelaspirited 47 MLAs to Khajuraho, marking the start of a revolt that ultimately led to the fall of the BJP government in the State.

This time, however, matters do not appear to be so critical. BJP President Kushabhau Thakre today ruled out the possibility of Mehta being another Vaghela. He expressed confidence that the crisis in Gujarat would blow over and that Mehta would withdraw his resignation. ``Mehta will not be another Shankersinh Vaghela,'' he declared, adding that he would talk to Mehta tonight if the latter had returned from Kutch.

However, it appears that Mehta was in Gandhinagar. Party general secretary M Venkaiah Naidu told journalists that he had spoken to the Chief Minister even as a meeting between him and Mehta was going on. ``The Chief Minister is trying to assuage Mehta. He is in a meeting with Mehta right now, and the issue is being sorted out,'' Naidu said.

BJP leaders here held an emergency meeting this evening when news came of Mehta's resignation from the ministry. Later, Thakresaid that the Chief Minister had not accepted Mehta's resignation. Mehta, he said, was unhappy about the murder of one of his supporters. The murder was due to business rivalry and had no political implications, he added. Thakre also denied Mehta's reported allegation that the murderers were connected to the Sangh Parivar.

Thakre said that he was in constant touch with the State unit and knew Gujarat ``from top to bottom''. Thakre was earlier in charge of Gujarat and in the absence of work being allocated he is handling the State for now.

``I asked our State unit if it was necessary for anyone to go to Gujarat. They said no,'' Thakre said, indicating his confidence that the matter would be amicably sorted out by the Chief Minister.

Mehta was a mature and sincere worker committed to the party, Thakre said, pointing out that Mehta had stated that he would work for the party and strengthen the State and Central Governments. ``Mehta has also said that he should not be compared to Vaghela,'' the BJPPresident remarked.