BJP rebels on its side,MJP looks to make a mark

While the party faces an uphill task of wooing voters,most of whom do not think beyond the BJP and the Congress,its fate also depends heavily on rebel BJP veterans.

MJP president and former Gujarat home minister Gordhan Zadaphia,who fell out with Chief Minister Narendra Modi over the latter’s alleged autocratic style of functioning,believes there is a vacuum that his party can fill. “MJP is emerging as a party that can appeal to the poor,farmers and the urban class equally,” said Zadaphia,who has so far held conventions for Patels,Rohit Samaj,tribals and OBCs.

In July,the MJP is to host a meet in Surendranagar to protest against “keeping farmers deprived” of Narmada waters to meet the demand of urban centers.

Modi’s bete noire and powerful Patel community leader Keshubhai Patel,who is currently the centre of attention of all the parties given his clout among the politically influential Leuva Patels,may prove to be a game changer for the MJP president,who is also a Leuva.

For,the former CM has also been frequently seen with Congress leaders. Bapa,as Keshubhai is popularly known,recently launched a scathing attack on the Modi government at a public function where he was flanked by powerful Congress leaders from Saurashtra,including Porbandar MP Vithal Radadia.

However,most of his hard-hitting anti-government statements (including “All Gujaratis are living in fear”,said at a Rohit Samaj function in Ahmebabad last month) have come at events organised by the MJP,which many feel is an indication of his liking for this new party.

Besides Keshubhai,MJP’s hope also rests on BJP rebels like former state party president Kashiram Rana and Mahuva MLA Dr Kanu Kalsaria. Also,another ex-CM,Suresh Mehta,has been maintaining distance from the BJP for a long time now.

“Some BJP leaders are unhappy with Modi and they need an option. Given a chance,they may revolt. But considering what happened to Sanjay Joshi following his alleged rift with Modi,the ‘unhappy lot’ would like to wait and watch till the fate of Keshubhai is decided,” said a senior BJP leader.

Support of these leaders becomes all the more important for the MJP as one of its founding members,former Bhavnagar MLA Sunil Oza,returned to the BJP fold recently.