Can146;t do without Modi, says BJP

The BJP has ruled out a change of guard in Gujarat, where dissidents have been running a campaign against Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

The BJP has ruled out a change of guard in Gujarat, where dissidents have been running a campaign against Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

A few days ago senior party leader Keshubhai Patel had publicly criticised Modi for his 8220;autocratic behaviour8221;. Modi, too, has shown no signs of accommodating the rebels, making the task difficult for party8217;s taskmaster Arun Jaitley.

8220;Modi will remain leader of the party in the elections. The leadership does not think it necessary to replace him,8221; BJP spokesperson Sushma Swaraj said. About increasing dissidence in the state BJP unit, Swaraj said, 8220;complaints will be heard and resolved8221;.

Modi has reportedly sought tough action against Patel for showing public sympathy with rebel leaders, but Rajnath Singh is not inclined to do that. 8220;Patel is a senior leader and cannot be ignored. He will have to be accommodated,8221; a senior leader said.

A rebel leader responded to Swaraj8217;s statement as nothing new. 8220;The party president also has said that Modi will not be removed. But things cannot proceed like this,8221; he said, hoping the central leadership could be convinced to rein in Modi.

Rebel leaders, including Suresh Mehta, Kanshiram Rana and Keshubhai Patel had discussions with general secretary Arun Jaitley in recent weeks, but are not hopeful of any reprieve. 8220;Advaniji has blind faith in Modi. We are being asked to surrender,8221; a senior leader of the rebel camp told The Indian Express.

The rebel camp is demanding measures to at least partially clip Modi8217;s wings ahead of the elections. One thing that these rebels would possibly settle for is the constitution of an election committee to recommend candidates for the Assembly elections.

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8220;Modi has not allowed the constitution of this committee in order to prevent any democratic decision making in candidate selection,8221; said a senior leader. These leaders have complained to the central leadership that Modi has not been conducting legislative party meetings where MLAs could voice their views. They also highlighted that the recent disciplinary action against seven MLAs was taken without scrutiny by a disciplinary committee.

Though Jaitley heard the rebels, they are far from hopeful. 8220;He told us Modi has a certain way of functioning and even Advaniji could not control him,8221; a BJP leader said. The BJP is keen to buy peace with the rebels, but intentions alone may not help the party.