BJP dissidents in Gujarat woo Joshi instead of Modi

Murli Manohar Joshi is emerging as a rallying point in Delhi for the dissident group in the Gujarat unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been running from pillar to post seeking support within the party hierarchy.

The dissident group, whose ranks are swelling by the day, is now convinced that Chief Minister Narendra Modi has party national president L.K. Advani's ear and therefore there is little chance of their getting a fair deal.

They are equally convinced that they need a strong and powerful patron in Delhi, who is not under Modi's spell and is able to understand the chief minister's autocratic ways and the damage it is causing to the party in Gujarat.

Interestingly, though the dissident leaders have been camping in Delhi of late, they have made no attempts to contact Advani but have instead been meeting all the other national leaders.

This move stems from their belief that Advani is too close to Modi and following the latter's support during the recent leadership crisis, Advani may not be in a position to contain him.

The proof, they say, lies in the way Modi recently had his way in the revamp of the state party set up and the cabinet expansion.

A highly placed source in the dissident camp said the group has decided to seek the support of Joshi in their fight against Modi.

This strategic line has emerged after brain storming sessions within the group both in the state as well as in Delhi.

The line will be taken further after former chief minister Keshubhai Patel returns from the United States.

Modi, who has hitherto been checkmating his rivals through his demonstrated support in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad hierarchy will find the going tough once Joshi steps into the scene.

The veteran leader enjoys great respect with the RSS top brass and is also known to have a very good equation with the VHP leadership.

Incidentally, Gordhan Jhadapia who has emerged as the poster boy of the dissident group after he stood up to Modi in declining his offer of a cabinet berth also hails from the ranks of the VHP and is considered close to its international general secretary Pravin Togadia.

The ruling Modi group was in jitters after Jhadapia, accompanied by another hardline leader, Nalin Bhatt, reached Delhi, at the request of the bulk of the party MPs from Gujarat.

Bhatt, who also has his roots in the RSS, has for the first time stepped out to be counted amongst the dissidents as have most of the MPs.

Though both, Jhadapia and Bhatt have cited personal reasons for their visit to Delhi, highly placed sources said that since the MPs are unable to come from Delhi in view of the parliament session, they have invited Jhadapia for a strategy session.

The dissidents are also making the most of the parliament session as the bulk of the top brass is in the capital and Jhadapia and Bhatt are having a busy schedule meeting as many as they can amongst those who matter.

The Gujarat MPs are also working on a move for holding a felicitation function for Jhadapia who has "chosen to give priority to popular and party workers' sentiments" and shunned power.

The venue and timing of the function will be decided shortly.

The dissident group is also learnt to be enraged at the use of sleuths to keep a tab on their party leaders by the Modi group.