At a birthday party, Modi rebels have a riot: ‘Hitler, go’

‘‘It’s time for a change in leadership,’’ Solanki said with finality. ‘‘Things have gone too far and Chief Minister Narendra Modi cannot run things like this anymore. He has to go. I am expressing the sentiments of more than 60 MLAs present here.’’

The 75th birthday party for Rajya Sabha MP and veteran Mehsana leader Dr A.K. Patel, a Keshubhai Patel loyalist, held at Balaji Farmhouse near Gandhinagar, was reminiscent of scenes from Shankersinh Vaghela’s 1995 rebellion. That was against Keshubhai Patel; this one, clearly, was Keshubhai’s own show, for he was present right from the beginning.

MLAs who turned up, offered bouquets to A.K. Patel, but immediately after, prostrated before Keshubhai.

From the time it was announced, it was clear that the dinner was more a platform for anti-Modi MLAs to consolidate themselves.

Over the last few days, BJP MLAs have been making representations against Modi to state unit president Rajendrasinh Rana. They also embarrassed Modi in the Assembly by either taking on ministers themselves or refusing to defend them in the face of a Congress onslaught.

Modi has tried to stem that — by threatening to resign; by telling his ministers to pacify the MLAs; by agreeing to meet MLAs individually; and, on Thursday evening, by meeting MLAs Naresh Kanodia, Pravin Makadia, Kalubhai Chavda, and Dinubhai Solanki to hint that they’d be taken care of.

The BJP leadership, too, seems to have tried to mollify the MLAs, and Thursday’s Assembly session saw them standing by the government or at least not embarrassing it. The mood—and the attendance—at the farmhouse party, however, indicated that Modi can’t wish the dissidence away.

Although Patel had invited all 15 ministers, only Sports & Cultural Activities Minister Bavkubhai Unghad turned up for the party, ignoring Modi’s warning that his ministers should not be seen there. Asked whether he did not fear his boss’ wrath, Unghad pointed to Keshubhai and said: ‘‘He’s my boss.’’ Besides the MLAs, former Union ministers Dr Vallabh Katharia and Bhavnaben Chikalia were also present.

The high-command is taking note. Sources in the BJP said that a meeting has been convened by party president Venkiah Naidu and L.K. Advani in New Delhi on June 2. Keshubhai Patel, Suresh Mehta, Rajendrasinh Rana, Ramadass Agarwal and Sanjay Joshi have also been called.

The meeting was initially scheduled for May 23, when dissidence erupted, but Keshubhai said he had another engagement. Keshubhai is also learnt to have been told to ‘‘control’’ the situation till the Assembly session is over in mid-June.

Speaking to mediapersons, Solanki said, ‘‘We all have grievances against Modi. He never listened to us, even to ministers, and did not bother to take care of our problems. Meeting a chief minister had never been so difficult before. He’s arrogant. We don’t want him.’’

A.K. Patel, who claimed he’d learnt that some of Modi’s trusted ministers had tried to dissuade MLAs from attending the bash, said: ‘‘Some influential people are trying to prevent my friends— who happen to be MLAs— from attending a simple birthday party. How can they do that?’’