While dissidents demanding Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s ouster have quietened for now at the high command’s intervention, Modi himself is reaching out to MLAs in a bid to neutralise the dissidence.When dissent reached a shrill pitch, he had offered to meet MLAs individually. Thursday and Friday saw Modi meeting over two dozen MLAs each at his chamber, including some of those who attended A.K. Patel’s birthday bash. Later in the day, at the high command’s insistence, Modi went and met Keshubhai Patel at his residence. Among those who met Modi were MLAs from tribal districts of the Panchmahals, Dahod, Vadodara, Bharuch, and Surat. Also staunch Keshubhai supporters like Maya Kodnani, Jitendra Patel, Atul Patel, Jasumatiben Korat, Rajesh Pathak, and Tapubhai Limbasiya.Modi is learnt to be working in right earnest: on several occasions he summoned ministers or officials right away and asked them to attend to MLAs’ grievances. Otherwise, he immediately had instructions conveyed to the departments concerned.‘‘The CM asked if I had any long-pending problems in my Sankheda constituency,’’ said Kantibhai Tadvi. ‘‘I told him about a long stretch of road that needed repair. Also about tribals facing water shortage. He immediately directed ministers to resolve the problem.’’Tadvi, a former state forest development corporation chairman, said he felt Modi would be making appointments to boards and corporations as soon as the current Assembly session ended.Among MLAs from tribal regions who met Modi were Jetha Bharwad, Kalbhai Maliwad, Chhatrasinh Mori, and Dhansukh Patel. They told The Indian Express they wanted to have nothing to do with the rebellion brewing against Modi.But the mood of Keshubhai loyalists was different. They were unwilling to reveal what was discussed with Modi: all they would say was that they spoke to him about problems in their consituency. However, they made it clear that their attendance at Thursday’s birthday bash did not figure at all in the meeting. Kalol MLA Atul Patel, who’s the younger brother of A.K. Patel, said his brother’s birthday was a social function and that no political colour should be given to it. Later, Modi was closeted with his most trusted ministers, I.K. Jadeja, Bhupenrasinh Chudasma, Amit Shah, Narottam Patel, and Saurabh Patel. AUDA chairman Surendra Patel and senior MLA Bharat Barot also joined the meeting with Modi.
