Zadaphia leads rebels to Delhi

AHMEDABAD: Rebel MLAs led by Gordhan Zadaphia on Tuesday landed in Delhi to continue their campaign against Chief Minister Narendra Modi, even as the BJP's central leadership began taking serious note of the situation in Gujarat following the 'sacking' of sports minister Bavkubhai Undhad by the CM on Monday night.
Zadaphia and other rebel MLAs including Balubhai Tanti, Becharbhai Bhadani, Sidharth Parmar, senior leader Nalin Bhatt and others met Murli Manohar Joshi, Pramod Mahajan and Bal Apte and reiterated their demand for a change in the state leadership.A group of rebel leaders, including Vallabh Kathiria, called on Vice-President Bhaironsinh Shekhawat, who could wield influence on liberal leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Besides , some more MLAs includi ng Pradipsinh Jadeja, Bimal Shah, Mahendra Trivedi and Rakesh Rav were also headed for Delhi to make an effective representation before the central leaders.
Later in the evening, ex-CM Keshubhai Patel too boarded the flight for Delhi to join rebel leaders Kashiram Rana, Vallabh Kathiria and former state BJP chief Rajendrasinh Rana, who have been busy meeting central leaders.
Zadaphia told TOI from Delhi that the 'Swamaan group' of the BJP would continue its battle in a disciplined manner, within the framework of the party's norms. He said that the members would not indulge in any violation of party discipline.
"We have met senior leaders and apprised them about the feelings of disgruntled MLAs." He said Keshubhai and some other state leaders would take up their case before central leadership.
In another development, Vajpayee held a meeting with senior leaders at his residence on Monday night, where he reportedly discussed the Gujarat situation.
The sources in the rebel camp on Tuesday hinted that Vajpayee suggested that the party should try to find out a solution of leadership issue in Gujarat before it was too late. The party president and other senior functionaries should if need be convene a meeting of party's parliamentary board to discuss the growing dissension against Narendra Modi.
On their part, the RSS leadership has preferred to stay away from the crisis in the BJP organisation. When contacted, state RSS chief Amrutlal Kadiwala said that "the current crisis was concerning the BJP, and we have no role to play in it."