The crisis in the Gujarat ministry has brought to the forefront the sharp divisions within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The resignation of Industries Minister Suresh Mehta in the state is a clear pointer to the seriousness of the situation.It is not out of pique that he has put in his papers. Nor can it be dismissed as the result of the frustration a former chief minister may feel over remaining just a minister. He is angry because one of his close supporters was killed, allegedly by the supporters of some BJP MLAs. Mehta feels frustrated that he is unable to bring the guilty to book because of the alleged political patronage the killers enjoy.If there is some truth in what he says, it does not show the BJP government in a good light. The charges are quite similar to the accusations political leaders in certain parts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh often make against each another. In other words, the phenomenon of politicians resorting to violence to settle scores with their rivals seems to have spreadto Gujarat.The fallout of this is that a BJP worker and one who is a close confidante of the second most important man in the ministry can be assassinated with impunity. The incident undermines the party's moral right to strike at the Rabri Devi government on the ground that criminals have been ruling the roost in the state. In terms of law and order, the BJP's performance, be it in Gujarat or UP, does not inspire confidence.The BJP leadership, both in the state and at the national level, makes light of Mehta's challenge in the smug belief that he does not have the potential to emerge as another Shankersinh Vaghela. The spectacular victory the BJP achieved in the February elections insulates it from such threats.Needless to say, Mehta's ranting will make no difference to the stability of the government, at least for the time being. But to dismiss the whole episode in this manner, as the BJP leadership is attempting to do, is to invite trouble. In politics the image of a party matters a lot.It wasVaghela's image as a party-breaker and his failure as chief minister to provide a clean and efficient government that put paid to his electoral hopes. In fact, the BJP had little difficulty in bouncing back to power on the strength of the anti-Vaghela vote.Though elections are four years away, the party cannot remain complacent. There have been a series of ugly incidents in the state that have stirred the minority communities and have raised doubts about the BJP's credentials to provide good governance. Mehta's charges buttress the popular perception that the law-and-order situation in Gujarat has deteriorated over the months. This will have an adverse impact on the party as it prepares for the impending elections in four states.Unlike in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and at the Centre, the BJP in Gujarat is not dependent on any party or a group of independents to prop up its government. It means there is nothing to restrain the party from pursuing its distinct brand of policies. It may not be difficult tobring the resignation drama to an end but a far more difficult task will be to address the issues that it has raised.The first priority for the Keshubhai Patel ministry must be to bring the murderers of Mehta's supporter to book. If necessary the Centre can send a team to the state to study the law and order situation there. Its report would be enlightening.
