Advani at Modi side, rebels switch camp

Solanki is now beholden to Modi, having been made a Minister, but Pandya’s turnaround is a new development. Also sharing the dais with Advani and Modi was Rajendrasinh Rana, who isn’t known to be on Modi’s side either. Rana, too, made a public appeal for support for Modi.

Speaking at the function, Modi, who has so far maintained stoic silence on dissidence, said: ‘‘We don’t believe in shakti pradarshan, but in shakti darshan.’’

Inaugurating an electricity supply scheme in Bhavnagar district, Advani praised Modi for focussing on issues of development and progress instead of political matters.

Among those who have come to accept that Modi will be around for a long time is Godhra MLA Haresh Bhatt. ‘‘I respect both Keshubhai Patel and Narendra Modi. For me, Hindutva is the key to leadership. If Modi changes his stand on Hindutva, I will also change my allegiance,’’ said the former chief of Bajrang Dal’s state unit.

A senior party leader close to the rebel camp was forced to concede that some of their supporters were now likely to back Modi. ‘‘Equations have changed. The rebels have realised that the party president has made up his mind and the chief minister’s leadership will not change,’’ he said.

Kashiram Rana, also a rebel camper, admitted that some MLAs might have changed their stand and others may be thinking of doing so.

Other Keshubhai Patel supporters described Solanki as a traitor: after all, he’s the one who likened Modi to Hitler and now says he was mistaken and realises that Modi is ‘‘a people’s leader.’’ They said the struggle to oust Modi would continue, and that Keshubhai was doing something.