Despite claims that the growing dissidence in Gujarat will have no impact on the party’s fortune in the December Assembly elections, the BJP has decided to go the extra mile in placating sulking senior leader Keshubhai Patel by promising him a sizeable say in distribution of tickets in key Saurashtra region.The region comprises 52 seats out of the 182 seats in the Assembly.
Patel, who has been spearheading dissidents in the state for quite some time and is considered to be the main detractor of chief minister Narendra Modi, has promised central BJP leaders that he has been with the party through thick and thin and will not back those, who have been opposing Modi.
Informing the development a senior functionary of the party said, ??The central leadership has successfully managed to placate Patel by promising him a greater say in distributing tickets in the Saurashtra region.?? Saurashtra, a stronghold of Patel, had backed the BJP handsomely along with central Gujarat, which made the Congress bite the dust in the last Assembly polls in 2002.
Meanwhile refusing to take action against erring MPs Vallabhai Katheria and Somabhai Patel on disciplinary grounds, the party is of the view that if actions were taken, would provide them ??an escape route to avoid the anti-defection laws”. “We want to keep the sword of discipline hanging over their heads so that they do not openly hobnob with the Congress,?? the party functionary said.
The BJP feels that it will be a problem for the Congress if the party either flirts with or inducts former chief minister Suresh Mehta and suspended MLA Gordhan Zadaphia, as the suspended MLA was the home minister at the time of post-Godhra violence and the former chief minister has a long association with the RSS.
Moreover, the saffron party has already began a process for identifying winnable candidates and its Parliamentary board is expected to meet here around Diwali next month to finalise the list of nominees. The BJP is also likely to give a chance to several fresh faces to overcome the anti-incumbency factor of the sitting legislators.
Party general secretary and in charge of Gujarat, Arun Jaitley, also had a brief visit to the state. He is likely to submit a report to the party central leadership about the preparations for elections in the state.
A meeting of BJP general secretaries was also held here on Wednesday evening, which took stock of the party’s preparedness for the upcoming elections.
