Modi won’t melt so Pandya pulls out

The leadership, which had planned to release the list in the afternoon, deferred the exercise till evening to see if Pandya’s statement had had any effect on Modi. The Chief Minister, unable to get over the bitterness generated by Pandya’s refusal to vacate his seat for him and a subsequent public feud, remained unmoved.

Pandya ran out of patience when the high command announced the names of the candidates for three of the four last seats, leaving out Ellisbridge. General secretary Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, when asked about the reason for the delay in announcing the candidate for Ellisbridge, told The Indian Express that the central leadership had not received the state unit’s recommendation on the issue yet.

Pandya told The Indian Express on phone that he had decided not to press his candidature but refused to answer any questions. Having avoided making any controversial comments till now, he may pour his heart out tomorrow. It is not clear yet if he would rebel and contest as an independent candidate. Though he is under tremendous pressure from his supporters to do so, it would a hard decision for him, given his long association with the RSS and the BJP.

The entire episode marks the helplessness of BJP strongman and Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani. Normally, senior leaders in all parties get a free hand in the choice of candidates for the assembly seats in their Lok Sabha constituencies. Advani is not just a senior leader — he practically controls the party. Ellisbridge falls in his Gandhinagar LS constituency. While he has been unable to have his way in selection of the candidate for this seat, Modi has been able to defy him, senior central and state party leaders, the RSS and the VHP.

Pandya, by making the pull-out announcement, has underlined the extent to which Modi’s writ runs in the party. It is for the high command to put its seal on it or confront Modi and announce the candidature of Pandya.

Name of former Surendranagar MP and city mayor Bhavnaben Dave is reportedly being considered for Ellisbridge, according to sources. Dave is considered to be close to Modi who had helped her get the party ticket in 1995 for Vasna municipal ward. There is also speculation that Modi may be considering the seat for himself.

Meanwhile, Modi today reiterated that the BJP would contest on the basis of its performance. He warned the people against attempts by the Congress to vitiate the atmosphere by resorting to mud-slinging.

He was speaking at a function to inaugurate the election office for his Maninagar constituency at Khokhra. With former chief minister Keshubhai Patel by his side, Modi was accompanied by family members of some Godhra victims — Panchal and Soni families.

Patel addressed the meeting, asserting that criminals such as those responsible for the Godhra carnage had all along got the patronage of the Congress.

Referring to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi only once in his speech, the Chief Minister said, ‘‘I had thrown a challenge to her (Sonia) for a public debate on my speeches; she is yet to accept the challenge.’’ Lashing out at the citizen’s tribunal which had indicted his government for the communal riots, Modi alleged that the tribunal had targeted the administration in order to demoralise it.

Speaking of a salamat Gujarat, Modi remarked that the relief camp phase was over. ‘‘We are working towards a peaceful state where none should feel insecure,’’ he said, warning maut ke saudagar (agents of death) to ‘‘pack their stuff and leave Gujarat’’.

He said the forthcoming elections were crucial as it was not just a fight between the BJP and the Congress. ‘‘This time, even Pakistan is interested in the Gujarat elections and they want a favourable government installed here. It is for you to ensure that these attempts fail.’’

(Inputs from Ahmedabad)