|
Gujarat : Revolt against Modi |
 |
Hindutva’s poster boy from Gujarat, Chief Minister Narendra Modi, is in trouble. About 60 of the 127 party MLAs, headed by rebel MLA Solanki, have demanded change of leadership in view of the party’s slide in the Lok Sabha polls in the state.
The whole Sangh Parivar including the BJP, which is its political arm, launched a major operation to deal with the revolt against Modi. One part of the high command’s plan is to clip Modi’s wings; the other is to caution dissidents against making a public spectacle of intra-party differences, especially as the state assembly is in session.
As a sop to the rebels, it was decided that the Gujarat BJP will have a new chief in place of Rajendra Rana. He may be replaced by a person from the anti-Modi camp to send a signal that Modi will not have a free run. Modi will be advised to reshuffle his council of ministers to induct some disgruntled MLAs. He will also be told to change his style of functioning and allow better access to legislators and BJP workers to the corridors of power. A somewhat mellowed Modi held meetings with several party MLAs individually. BJP sources said that in case these steps did not solve the problem, the party may well have to consider the last option - show Modi the door.
The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress in Gujarat are still coming to terms with the results of the elections. Neither Narendra Modi, who scored a victory in the December 2002 assembly elections, nor the BJP has looked this vulnerable in a long time. The Congress was unsure of itself until the morning of May 13 but now has a acquired a spring in its step. The changes are manifesting themselves on the floor of the Gujarat Assembly which began its budget session last Thursday. Though it has less than 50 members, the Congress is in an assertive mood while Modi and the BJP MLAs despite their two-thirds majority are subdued.
The BJP’s tally reduced from 21 to 14 and the Congress’ went up from five to 12 in the Lok Sabha. The results shook the BJP because the Congress led in as many as 90 Assembly segments to the BJP’s 89. Barely 16 months ago the BJP rode the crest of a Hindutva wave winning 127 seats. In the absence of an emotive issue-Modi’s anti-Sonia tirade did not stir voters out of their homes.
|
