Catch-22 situation for party on whether to chuck him and ruin 2014 chances in Saurashtra, or keep him and dent Modi's image.
Senior cabinet minister Babu Bokhiria’s conviction in the Rs54 crore limestone theft case has put the BJP and the Narendra Modi government in a fix. While both the party and government maintained that any decision on Bokhiria will be taken only on Monday, sources said it won’t be as easy as it sounds.
Bokhiria, who was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment in the case, is believed to be the first sitting minister ever to be convicted by a court of law in the history of Gujarat.
When contacted, party spokesperson IK Jadeja said, that no decision has been taken in this connection and developments on it will happen only on Monday. Government spokesperson Nitin Patel too reiterated the same.
Sources in the party said that a decision regarding Bokhiria will be too difficult in view of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. “Bokhiria along with Vitthal Radadia hold power in the Saurashtra region and the two are imperative for the Saffron party if they are to win seats here in the 2014 election. In view of this, the party will have to be extremely careful while taking any decision regarding Bokhiria,” said the source.
The source further added that Bokhiria presents a strange dilemma for the BJP. “On the one hand there is the fear of losing seats if Bokhiria is removed. On the other hand continuing with him will mar the image of chief minister Narendra Modi, who zealously guards his ‘non-corrupt’ tag,” said the source.
The source said that the party is looking to corner 18 to 20 of the 26 seats in the 2014 election and the Saurashtra leader can be of help in getting an upper hand in seats in the region. It should be noted that the Congress has already announced a state-wide agitation if Bokhiria does not resign.
Sources said that any decision on the fate of the leader has been postponed till Monday to give him time to appeal against the order. “Once an appeal is filed, the party can argue that his appeal is pending and it wouldn’t be fair to take any decision unless that appeal is heard,” said the source.
Bokhiria, former BJP MP Bharat Odedara, strongman Bhima Dula Odedara and his son Laxman were sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. Babu Bokhiria won the last assembly election by defeating state Congress president and sitting MLA, Arjun Modhwadia. He was then inducted as water supply and water resources minister.
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