13 MLAS apologise to CM

The crisis in the BJP over change of leadership of chief minister Keshubhai Patel diluted on Friday with 13 of the 20 MLAs, who were party to the signature campaining, expressing full confidence in his leadership.

The MLAs met chief minister Keshubhai Patel at 8.40 am on Friday and gave a clarification in writing that they have not signed for a change of leadership and have expressed confidence in his leadership.

Sources informed that minister of state for mines and minerals Dilip Patel, MLAs Sundarsinh Chauhan, Bhagvanji Kargaria, Dr Mahendra Patel, Jayanti Kavadia, Shirsh Shukla, Chatrasinh Modi, Vijay Patel, R.C. Patel, Kanti Amrutia, Dhiru Gajera, Samant Rathod and Mohan Kundaria met the chief minister personally or faxed statements that they have not demanded any change of leadership.

Meanwhile, in a press conference held at the BJP party office in Ahmedabad deputy president of the state BJP Suresh Gandhi had claimed the MLAs had said that the signatures had been taken for the purpose of holding a joint meeting with the chief minister to hold a discussion on the power and water problems.

Meanwhile, even as close associates of the chief minister reportedly sent feelers to several ministers and MLAs who have raised a voice of dissent against the state leadership, the dissenting leaders claimed to be in a clear mood of sending across a message to the party high command that the BJP will not be able to face the next assembly.

Republished from Asian Age