Keshubhai vs Modi: now direct and from both sides

The whole of Gujarat is living in fear, Keshubhai said

Over the decade since Narendra Modi replaced him as Gujarat chief minister,BJP patriarch Keshubhai Patel has been making veiled attacks on the government,which the Modi camp has ignored. This election year,Keshubhai,78,has not only made a direct attack but also found a response,bringing in the open a rift that is shaping out as Keshubhais Patels vs Modis Patels.

The whole of Gujarat is living in fear, Keshubhai said last week,addressing a sub-sect of Scheduled Castes,Rohit Samaj,at a function where breakaway leader Gordhan Zadaphia was present. This was an extension of what he had said in January,that Patels are living in fear.

The Modi camp countered this the same day through its own Leuva Patels,the community Keshubhai belongs to. MLA L T Rajani said,Those who claim the community is living in fear should stop misguiding the community,while minister Dilip Sanghani said,Instead of politics of caste/community,now Gujarat has been witnessing politics of development. In Gujarat,nobody can scare anybody. Their community influences about a fifth of the states 182 Assembly seats.

A Keshubhai loyalist observed it was the first time since 2001 that BJP leaders were speaking out against Keshubhai to defend Modi. Given Keshubhais immense contribution to the BJPs progress and his influence in his community,this was best avoided, one leader said. BJP leaders felt the response couldnt have come without Modis consent.

In the 2002 elections,a sulking Keshubhai had hardly participated in the campaign. In 2007,he addressed meetings of the Sardar Patel Khedut Utkarsh Samiti,a group floated by BJP rebels and Congress members,but his speeches were carefully tempered. For the next four years,he appeared to have gone into a shell and Leuvas blame Modi for sending Bapa into oblivion. It is since January,when Keshubhai attended a Leuva Patel religious function in Rajkot,that he has gone into attack.

The situation is different this time, said Zadafia,a former minister who has since formed the Maha Gujarat Janta Party. In 2007,there was the SPKUS but it was not an option for voters. This time,a third front can be that option.

BJP insiders say Keshubhai enjoys the secret blessings of a section of the BJP leadership at the Centre.

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Differences between Modi and Keshubhai date back to the BJPs first victory in Gujarat in 1995. Modi became CM in 2001 amid allegations of mismanagement by the Keshubhai Patel government. What Keshubhai has not been able to forget is that he was not removed by the people but became a victim of party politics, a Keshubhai loyalist said.

Patel since Modi

2002: Development is like a relay race. One cannot claim sole credit.

2007: Even Lanka was a developed state. But was there any justice in Ravana Raj?

January 2012: Patels are living in fear. But now for a slap,the Patels will not offer their cheek but reply with a slap.

May 2012: All Gujaratis are living in fear8230;