People's Democracy

GUJARAT

Once Again BJP Rocked By Internal Turmoil 

Babulal Likhure

THE riot-tainted Gujarat BJP is in turmoil once again. This time it is no longer just verbal, preferably off-the-record, criticism of chief minister Narendra Modi’s autocratic style of functioning. It is now out into the open causing divisions in Delhi and other states and shaking BJP president L K Advani as never before.

The dissidents’ campaign against belligerent Hindutva’s biggest icon this week culminated in the resignation of a terrified minister who was scolded and humiliated for just visiting former chief minister Keshubuai Patel’s residence where other detractors of Modi had assembled.

The plight of Bavkubhai Unghad, the junior minister who resigned after being unable to withstand the mental torture at the cabinet meeting, is actually symptomatic of the terror and horror the minorities in Gujarat have learnt to live with ever since Modi’s ascent to power was followed up by the infamous pogrom of 2002.

But the current upswing in the dissidence against Modi cannot yet be any reason for the delight of secular and civil society as the BJP dissidents are still not uttering a word against the anti-minority riots their chief minister had organised so meticulously.

More importantly, the dissidents are also backed by – at least partially – the equally militant Vishwa Hindu Parishad which is cut up with Advani for trying to put up the ‘secular’ mask by his praises of Jinnah while on a tour to Pakistan.

The VHP’s ire against Modi and thus backing the dissidents can be attributed only to his support towards Advani during the slanging match within the Sangh Parivar over the Jinnah episode in June-July this year.

In other words, the VHP backing to the dissidents currently is an expression of opposition to Advani’s surreptitious move to project a secular image. A point that needs to be noted by the secular society is that there is no change of heart or sense of remorse vis-à-vis the riots either in the loyalist camp or among the dissidents.

These are the circumstances in whose backdrop Advani’s clean chit to Modi administration recently is seen as the party president’s ‘gracious’ way of returning the favour to the beleaguered chief minister.

It is also to be noted that the latest round of dissidence was triggered by refusal to join Modi’s cabinet by a dissident legislator who was allegedly acting at the behest of the VHP. Gordhan Zadhaphiya, who had been served show-cause notice for embarrassing Modi by not taking oath at the Raj Bhawan, is a VHP man and was very much in touch with known rioters during the mayhem of 2002.

The dissidents too have not made any claim of change in Sangh Parivar’s attitude of animosity towards minorities nor have they found fault with Modi’s repression of minorities through several ways.

Notwithstanding the fact that there is no fundamental ideological differences between the loyalists and dissidents so far as issues of belligerent Hindutva and handling of minorities are concerned, the battle between the two groups this time appears to be real.

Despite Advani’s quick fire-fighting operations and backing Modi to the hilt, dissidents have refused to bury their hatchet this time and have decided to carry the battle to Delhi where they are lobbying with other leaders in the high command.
The dissidents in the state BJP have now gone all out to demand the removal of Modi, despite their party president Advani (of Jinnah secular fame) showering loads of praises about his governance.

With as many as 60 of the 128 BJP legislators converging at former chief minister Keshubhai Patel’s residence last week, the ruling party in Gujarat is almost vertically split. Though the declared objective of the gathering at Keshubhai’s residence was enquiring about his wife’s health after her bypass surgery in USA, it was made absolutely clear by both the dissident and loyalist camps that the conclave was a show of strength by the anti-Modi group.

Firstly, it was the loyalist camp which recognised the gathering of party workers at Keshubhai’s place as a rebel conclave by trying to dissuade the MLAs from going there. Modi loyalists and state BJP office bearers had even threatened the legislators and elected district bodies’ representatives that presence at Keshubhai’s house would be construed as an act of ‘indiscipline’.

But the fact that even such a ban and threat could not deter nearly 15,000 party workers from converging at the place which became the hub of rebel activity is a sure pointer to the divide that has set in the party that is publicised for years as ‘disciplined’.

In retaliation to the loyalist camp’s hardened view of the gathering, the dissidents too did not make any secret of their real intentions by shouting overtly political slogans like ‘Jo hamse takrayega chur chur ho jayega’. Certainly, there was no need for dissidents to shout such slogans if the purpose of the gathering was really enquiring about the health of Keshubhai’s wife.

Let there be no doubt about it, the BJP is in  turmoil in Gujarat and  revolts have begun in Delhi and other BJP-ruled states. As of now a power tussle is slowly taking shape within the BJP, threatening not only Modi but Advani too. And who will play the next Brutus? That is the question. (INN)