Keshubhai wants say in candidate selection
Keshubhai Patel asks the BJP's central leadership to include him in the consultation process while finalising the candidates for the coming Gujarat assembly polls.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: Former Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel, while disassociating himself from the campaign launched by the rebels to join hands with the opposition Congress, has asked the BJP's central leadership to include him in the consultation process while finalising the list of candidates for the coming assembly polls.
Even though Mr Patel has preferred to stay away from the state election committee, which was reconstituted on Monday, he has told the party high-command that he would like to be kept in the loop in the ticket-distribution process. And the BJP's central leadership, anxious to keep the former chief minister in good humour, is likely to oblige him by allowing him a say in the selection of candidates, at least in the Saurashtra region.
The former chief minister wields considerable clout in the region, especially among the numerically and economically strong Patel community. The party, therefore, would not mind bending over backwards to protect his interests.
The BJP is also likely to assuage former union minister Kashiram Rana by keeping him in the frame while finalising the list of candidates for the assembly segments falling within the Surat Lok Sabha constituency. Mr Rana has been representing this seat in the Lok Sabha without any break since 1989.
The party, however, has decided against taking any move to prevent another former chief minister, Mr Suresh Mehta, and the two rebel MPs, Mr Somabhai Patel (Surendranagar) and Dr Vallabhbhai Kathiria (Rajkot) from embracing the Congress. It is also unlikely to initiate disciplinary proceedings against them.
``Why should we take action against them? We don't want to give any opportunity to project themselves as martyrs. We'd also like to keep the threat of anti-defection law dangling before them till the very end,'' a senior leader argued. With state assembly elections round the corner, the party has already suspended seven rebel legislators for hobnobbing with the Congress. These include former state minister Gordhan Zadaphia, Becharbhai Bhadani, Bhavkubhai Unghad, Balubhai Tanti, Ramilabehn Desai, Dhirubhai Gajera, and Siddharth Parmar.
Even though Mr Patel has preferred to stay away from the state election committee, which was reconstituted on Monday, he has told the party high-command that he would like to be kept in the loop in the ticket-distribution process. And the BJP's central leadership, anxious to keep the former chief minister in good humour, is likely to oblige him by allowing him a say in the selection of candidates, at least in the Saurashtra region.
The former chief minister wields considerable clout in the region, especially among the numerically and economically strong Patel community. The party, therefore, would not mind bending over backwards to protect his interests.
The BJP is also likely to assuage former union minister Kashiram Rana by keeping him in the frame while finalising the list of candidates for the assembly segments falling within the Surat Lok Sabha constituency. Mr Rana has been representing this seat in the Lok Sabha without any break since 1989.
The party, however, has decided against taking any move to prevent another former chief minister, Mr Suresh Mehta, and the two rebel MPs, Mr Somabhai Patel (Surendranagar) and Dr Vallabhbhai Kathiria (Rajkot) from embracing the Congress. It is also unlikely to initiate disciplinary proceedings against them.
``Why should we take action against them? We don't want to give any opportunity to project themselves as martyrs. We'd also like to keep the threat of anti-defection law dangling before them till the very end,'' a senior leader argued. With state assembly elections round the corner, the party has already suspended seven rebel legislators for hobnobbing with the Congress. These include former state minister Gordhan Zadaphia, Becharbhai Bhadani, Bhavkubhai Unghad, Balubhai Tanti, Ramilabehn Desai, Dhirubhai Gajera, and Siddharth Parmar.
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