Modi down,rebels prepare to strike

Emboldened by BJPs poor show in elections and loss of face for Narendra Modi,party rebels in Gujarat are reportedly regrouping in a bid to revive the 'anti-Modi campaign'.

Emboldened by BJPs poor show in the general elections and the loss of face for Chief Minister Narendra Modi,the partys lead campaigner,party rebels in Gujarat are reportedly regrouping in a bid to revive the anti-Modi campaign that had been abandoned nearly five years ago.

Some of the prominent BJP rebel leaders,including two former Union ministers Kashiram Rana and Dr Vallabh Kathria,have decided to make a representation before the party high command against Modis autocratic style of functioning in Gujarat. I have sought an appointment with the partys senior leaders,including BJP president Rajnath Singh. I will also have a meeting with like-minded people after I return back to discuss on the partys performance in Gujarat, Kathiria said on Tuesday.

Kathiria told The Indian Express on phone from Delhi that the BJP lost at least half-a-dozen seats in the elections due to wrong selection of certain candidates handpicked by Modi,besides internal bickerings within the state BJP had cost the party dearly at the hustings. Not only this,tainted candidates who left the Congress had been fielded in some constituencies where they lost.

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Kathiria,who was denied renomination from Rajkot this time,said Modi had assured the party high command to win 20-22 of the total 26 seats from Gujarat. Now,that the BJP could increase its tally by just one seat,the high command should seek CMs explanation,he said. He said resentment was brewing among BJP cadres,particularly in Saurashtra. The party has lost four seats in Saurashtra,including the one in Rajkot which has maximum number of RSS shakhas and is considered a saffron bastion.

We plan to convert the anger brewing among party workers into a movement against those who are responsible for the partys debacle in the polls, the rebel leader added.

Another BJP rebel leader Kashiram Rana said he and other colleagues would discuss,among other things,when and how to make a representation before the party high command against those responsible for partys poor performance. We will also seek the moral support of former chief minister Keshubhai Patel, said former Union Textile minister who was denied renomination from Surat.

Rana was critical of the way selection of candidates was done at the behest of Modi for the polls. He further said that BJP would have increased its tally by another five-six seats,had the tainted people from other parties not been fielded. The BJPs vote share came down and Congress established lead in 84 Assembly segments against 67 in 2004,he added.