BJP woos big brother Keshubhai in Gujarat

THE SECRET REBEL: Keshubhai commands the Patels, who forms 20 percent of Gujarat's population.

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New Delhi: One man’s mood can make or break the BJP when Gujarat goes to polls in December.

Former chief minister Keshubhai Patel’s influence in the BJP has waned but he is still described as the tallest party leader from Gujarat. Keshubhai has failed to dislodge Chief Minister Narendra Modi and now his agenda to get best deal from the BJP.

He is no friend of Modi but he is not calling him his enemy either. BJP leaders Gordhan Zadaphiya and Suresh Mehta use Keshubhai’s name as a rallying force against Modi but he himself has kept a window open for a patch-up with the Chief Minister.

Keshubhai’s son, Bharat Patel, was earlier thinking of fighting the elections as an independent candidate but he may now be given a ticket from the Visavadar assembly constituency.

Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitly rejected views that Keshubhai was a dissident. “Please don’t treat him like an outsider. Keshubhai is a tall figure for us," he said.

Jaitly has to keep Keshubhai in good humour he wants to reinstall Modi as Chief Minister. Keshubhai may not be at the top of popularity charts but he is the top leader of the Patel community.

The Patel community forms 20 percent of Gujarat's population and a battle cry from Keshubhai may be required to get their support. For the Congress Keshubhai’s unwillingness to go any further with his rebellion is not good news.

Bharatsinh Solanki, president of Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee, says: "Some rebels are in the political process. They are meeting their leaders and also our leaders."

But all these meetings may turn out to be irrelevant with the biggest 'rebel' of them refusing to revolt.

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