It’s Mehta’s turn to shoot off letters of protest

In one letter, Mehta criticised Patel’s “autocratic style of functioning” and his meddling in the day-to-day work of other ministers, including Mehta’s own. He requested that he may be relieved of “my present Industries, Tourism, Parliamentary Affairs and Civil Aviation portfolio”.

The Chief Minister summoned the Industries Minister at his official residence where the two were closeted for about an hour. “I hope Sureshbhai is satisfied with the outcome of the meeting,” the Chief Minister told reporters. He confirmed he had received the two letters, one demanding an emergency meeting of MLAs and the other about “our internal party matters”.

However, Mehta refused to share anything with mediapersons nor did he say that he was satisfied after his meeting with the Chief Minister. Only yesterday, Mehta had expressed unhappiness over the Chief Minister’s action in ignoring the claim of his supporters, namely Purshottam Roopala, I K Jadeja and Arvind Patel, who are much more senior than the MLAs the Chief Minister chose to induct in the ministry.

Commenting on Mehta’s action, one of the supporters remarked, “This is the right time for our leader to prove his point”.

Mehta’s residence witnessed a flurry of activity throughout the day with many senior party leaders and ministers visiting him. Among them were Health and Civil Supplies Minister Ashok Bhatt and the party’s organising secretary Sanjay Joshi who tried to dissuade him from precipitating the matters, especially since Lok Sabha elections are round the corner.

Persons close to Jaspal Singh, who has been given Jails and Rural Housing, said he is writing to BJP president Kushabhau Thakre, pointing out that while “a junior minister with a criminal background” had been given an additional portfolio, he had been treated shabbily for taking firm action against black-marketeers.