Rediff On The NeT: Vaghela takes on Atmaram Patel

Vaghela takes on Atmaram Patel

Exactly two years -- to the day --after Shankarsinh Vaghela unfurled the banner of revolt against then chief minister Keshubhai Patel, the winds of war are blowing across Gandhinagar.

Gujarat Revenue Minister Atmaram Patel, who revolted against Chief Minister Vaghela this week, now faces disciplinary action, almost certain explusion from the ruling Rashtriya Janata Party by Saturday.

RJP Gujarat unit president Madhusudhan Mistry told the media on Friday evening that he had served a show cause notice on Atmaram Patel for "his highly objectionable remark aimed at tarnishing the image of the government, the party and the leadership" in his television interviews.

The notice, Mistry revealed, asked why action should not be taken against Atmaram Patel for indiscipline. The notice was faxed to Gujarat Bhavan in Delhi where the RJP rebel has been camping for the last couple of days. The notice was also served at his Gandhinagar office and his official residence.

Atmaram Patel, who arrived in Ahmedabad late on Friday evening, has been asked to reply by 0600 hours on Saturday, failing which action will be initiated against him. It is almost certain that he will be expelled from the party for indiscipline.

RJP national president Vaghela, who was also present at the press conference, said he would meet Atmaram Patel to know the reasons for his rebellion against the government and the chief minister's leadership.

Vaghela had assigned Industry Minister Dilip Parikh and Finance Minister Banubhai Meghjibhai Shah to solve the crisis in the ruling RJP and bring Atmaram Patel back to the fold. "The differences with Atmaramji can be resolved by discussion," Dilip Parikh told Rediff On The NeT on Wednesday.

The chief minister alleged that some Congress leaders were behind Atmaram Patel's rebellion. It is wellknown in Gandhinagar that former chief minister Amarsinh Chaudhury, leader of the Congress Legislature Party, has championed Atmaram Patel's cause with Congress president Sitaram Kesri. The Congress will decide whether it should continue to support Vaghela on Saturday.

Vaghela turned down a suggestion that he step down in Atmaram Patel's favour and save his government. When one reporter asked how many RJP legislators supported the rebel minister, Vaghela claimed that Atmaram Patel was all alone.

In an interview to Star TV and Zee TV telecast on Thursday, Atmaram Patel staked his claim to form the government in Gandhinagar, saying he enjoyed the backing of 38 of the 45 ruling party legislators.

The octogenarian leader, a veteran of the co-operative movement in the state, hit the headlines on May 20, 1996 when Keshubhai Patel's supporters assaulted and stripped him at the Sardar Patel stadium soon after then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had addressed a Bharatiya Janata Party celebratory rally.

The reason for the BJP cadres's ire: Atmaram Patel had backed Vaghela in his bitter war with Keshubhai Patel.

Vaghela used the incident to illustrate what was wrong with the BJP in Gujarat. And when the party's central leadership refused to censure Keshubhai Patel for the sordid episode -- Vaghela in quick succession denounced the BJP leadership, was expelled from the party, launched the RJP on August 20, 1996 and later became instrumental in dislodging the Suresh Mehta government with Congress support on September 19, 1996. Eventually, Vaghela formed a government with Congress support on October 23, 1996.

Ironically, the biggest challenge to his leadership has come from his closest associate, Atmaram Patel. Sources close to Atmaram Patel claim that RJP leaders are disillusioned with the chief minister because he has isolated himself from the rank and file. But it will not be easy for the rebel to win the spurs of leadership.

As state Congress president C D Patel pointed out to Rediff On The NeT, all the RJP leaders have to support Atmaram Patel if he is to stake a credible claim to form the government. Even if one RJP member stays away, the arithmetic of the Gujarat assembly will not permit him to be sworn in as chief minister even if the Congress supports him. That could pave the way either for the BJP to stake a fresh claim to form a government or for a mid-term poll. BJP president Lal Kishinchand Advani made it clear on Wednesday that it prefers a poll to another stint in power.

EARLIER REPORTS:
As Atmaram Patel makes bid for power, Vaghela's running out of options
We want mid-term poll: Advani
Vaghela tries to win back Kesri

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