Modi-bashing did not pay, admit BJP rebels

The general feeling in the rebel camp is that the Modi-bashing, spearheaded from the platform of the Sardar Patel Utkarsh Samiti, has only benefited the Chief Minister. They believe this was probably the reason why their campaign did not yield any positive results during the Assembly elections. The rebels have acknowledged that focus on Modi and the Patel community were two mistakes due to which the SPUS campaign did not click with the electorate.

The rebel party leaders have said the new party will be an 8220;ideological replica8221; of the original BJP, which has allegedly failed to live up to the expectations of the people. The party plans to tap the sentiments of the people on issues such as the Ramjanm Bhoomi, Mandir Nirman and the softening of the Hindu stand by reaching out to the minorities.

Former Bhavnagar MLA Sunil Oza said the new party8217;s ideology will remain as that of the BJP8217;s, but will be followed in letter and spirit. 8220;It will be based on Hindu ideology for sure, but will not be like the BJP, which no longer delivers on its promises. The party will follow Pandit Din Dayal Upadhyay8217;s fundamentals on integral humanism,8221; he said.

Former Home Minister Gordhan Zadaphia said the new party will go against both the BJP and the Congress. Oza said the new party will, however, support Modi on issues like terrorism and POTA.

Under the guidance of former Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel and Suresh Mehta, the SPUS comprising second rung state BJP leaders like Zadafia, Oza, Rajkot Rural MLA Siddharth Parmar, had joined hands with the Congress to defeat Modi in the 2007 elections. Most of these leaders have roots in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh RSS.

The rebels further said they ought to have formed a party before the elections itself rather than forge an alliance with the Congress as part of the anti-Modi campaign.

8220;Had a new party been formed before the elections, we would have certainly won 12 to 15 seats. But our alliance with the Congress only benefited the BJP,8221; said Parmar.

Incidentally, most leaders like Patel, Kanshiram and Mehta have already distanced themselves from the rebels.

Around 5,000 people are expected to gather when the party is officially launched on September 25 at Ahmedabad. The rebel leaders are trying to give it a shape which they hope will strike the right chord with the people.

The leaders are, however, not sure whether the new party will take part in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. 8220;As of now, the focus will be on building up the organisation. The decision to take part in the election will be taken later on,8221; said Zadafia, who once worked hard to build up the BJP at the grassroots in the state.