While Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is busy campaigning elsewhere, his detractors are sharpening their claws for a showdown on October 13.
The BJP high command had assured the rebels that it might consider a change in leadership after the Maharashtra elections. In May, the rebel camp — comprising at least 60 MLAs and half-dozen MPs led by former CM Keshubhai Patel — had forced the high command on its knees, asking for Modi’s ouster. The provocation: The party’s dismal performance at the Lok Sabha elections and Modi’s ‘‘arrogant’’ behaviour.
BJP president Venkaiah Naidu and former deputy prime minister L.K. Advani had then told the rebels that a change in leadership at that stage would affect the party’s prospects in neighbouring Maharashtra. They had assured to consider their demand ouster once the Maharashtra polls got over on October 13, when Gujarat would also have its bypolls in five Assembly segments.
With only two days to go, the tension can be felt in the state BJP camp. Keshubhai Patel is learnt to have contacted all the rebels, asking them to be prepared for the final assault on Modi. The rebels are also ready with a list of promises left unfulfilled by Modi after the May 28 rebellion was suppressed. This includes nomination of chairmen and managing directors to state boards and corporations.
However, the Modi camp is quick to dismiss the buzz, saying his leadership was never under threat. In fact, Modi’s aides are learnt to be preparing for ‘‘Vibrant Gujarat’’ and make a grand show of it, which will project Modi as a dynamic leader.
Gir no longer safe for lions
Gujarat may claim that the Asiatic lion is the king of Gir forest and there’s no need for a new home in Kuno in Madhya Pradesh, but the truth is far removed from this. In the past nine months, eight lions have died in the 1,365-sq km sanctuary — three of them fell into wells dug by farmers, one was electrocuted when it came in contact with a live wire left by a farmer to protect his cattle from wild boars. Two lions died of poisoning, while two others died in territory fights. Gir National Park and Sanctuary officials say, degradation of habitat has led to the shrinking of the sanctuary. Now, for the 327 lions roaming the Gir, the sanctuary appears to be a smaller home where, forest officials confirm, increasing fights over territory are being witnessed.
CS to ‘sort out’ varsity Act mess
Chief Secretary P.K. Lahiri, who till now maintained a low profile, is increasingly finding himself confronting vexed issues for the government. After shielding barbs from the Supreme Court over riot cases, he is now facing the ire of academicians and teachers’ associations over the Ordinance of Gujarat Universities Common Act that the state government pushed in haste. The ordinance is being perceived as infringing on the freedom of educational institutions with the government curtailing the powers of the Chancellor, empowering itself with rights to appoint and dismiss vice-chancellors and having political appointees in committees.
Realising that the haste with which it pushed the ordinance through is snowballing into a major controversy, with teachers’ associations threatening to launch a state-wide agitation akin to ‘‘Nav Nirman’’ and Lord Bikhu Parikh expressing a piece of his mind, the state government has backed out a bit. Chief Minister Narendra Modi is learnt to have asked Lahiri to talk to the universities and teachers’ associations.
Lahiri has sent a note to all of them — mainly M.S. University, Vadodara, which was the first to reject the ordinance — inviting them to the talking table. But the attempt met its first stumbling block when he was told that no one had a copy of the ordinance to debate on it.
‘Gandhi test’ for convicts
Sixty-three inmates of the Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad took a unique test on Sunday. The convicts were tested on subjects like Gandhi’s ideology and highlights of his life. It all began on October 2 when the Hindi Department of the Gujarat Vidhyapith sought permission from the jail authorities for the project.