Jaitley hints at patch-up with Keshubhai Patel

The anti-Modi rebellion in the party is driven by a sense of alienation among the powerful Patel community and if Keshubhai holds his fire against Modi, the BJP hopes the rebellion would fizzle out. Keshubhai had declared that his son would be contesting as an Independent candidate, but that plan too seems to have been shelved for now.

The BJP central leadership is understood to have reached an agreement with Patel. Though Patel is not part of the state election committee, constituted earlier this week, his views will be considered in selection of candidates, in his areas of influence, particularly Saurashtra.

Keshubhai does not have much option. He cannot knock the doors of the Congress. The BJP has also decided not to take any further disciplinary action against the rebels. The two MPs who are aligning with the rebel cause8212;Somabhai Patel and Vallabhai Kataria8212;will be left untouched, because suspension will take them out of the ambit of the anti-defection law.

Modi will remain the sole mascot and strategist for the party and he has already eclipsed Advani in the state8217;s scheme of things. In the state, Modi is the last speaker in party functions because people do not stay after his speech. During the Navaratra season, Modi is visiting one city each day, taking rounds of garba pandals and converting them into political campaigns.