An apparently shaken State BJP leadership has begun fire-fighting to contain the large-scale resentment in municipalities and panchayats, while the Congress has started reaping the political gains. ``We have decided to activate the disciplinary committee to check the rebellion among members in the BJP-dominated civic bodies. The party has already initiated action against rebels and issued show-cause notices to many for anti-party activity during the recent elections of presidents and vice-presidents in local self-government bodies,'' state BJP general secretary Gordhanbhai Zadapia told The Indian Express today.

Zadapia said the party had suspended 11 members for rebellion in the recent elections of the president and vice-president of the BardoliMunicipality, while action had been taken against eight for anti-party activity during the Chandkheda Municipality election. Similar action will be initiated against those responsible for letting the Dehgam civic body slip into the Congress hands, he warned.

Despite the BJP enjoying absolute majority in the Gandhinagar taluka panchayat, the district party unit, through party bosses in the Secretariat, managed to get the panchayat superseded in the wake of rebellion by its presidential candidate who allegedly flouted the party whip not to contest.

The district BJP chief had obtained panchayat president Udesinh Thakore's resignation to pave the way for another leader. But, Thakore withdrew his resignation and insisted on contesting the election. Despite this, the resignation had been endorsed, under the rules, by the Gandhinagar district panchayat general body which is also dominated by the BJP.

Later, the District Development Officer (DDO) sent his report to the Development Commissioner who granted astay in Thakore's favour. Soon, local party leaders ``managed'' to get the stay vacated and got his resignation endorsed.

Five of the 15 BJP members in the 27-seat taluka panchayat also rebelled at the time of the vice-president's election, forcing the leadership to put off the election. Finally, the panchayat was superseded. Similarly, the BJP got the Veraval-Patan municipality superseded following defection of 22 members to the Congress during the presidential election there. The Veraval Deputy Collector has been appointed administrator which the Congress has protested.

The trouble is brewing in the BJP-ruled Surendranagar civic body, with 14 members submitting resignations to the district unit leadership in protest against the mandate not to participate in the president and vice-president's elections.

The members have also protested against the alleged interference by the party's local MLA in the functioning of the civic body. The party is also facing rebellion in the Rajula municipality where theelections have been postponed to January 29.

``The disastrous financial management and non-governance in the BJP-dominated civic bodies have triggered the widespread rebellion,'' State Congress general secretary Hasmukh Patel said. Also, the lack of direction and the BJP rulers' failure in implementing civic projects have led to this situation, Patel said, adding, ``the weapon of supersession being used by the government would boomerang on it in the days to come''.