Rebels hold back poll plans

AHMEDABAD: With Gujarat preparing to go into polls within a few months time, the BJP rebels are not giving anything away.

Contrary to the speculation that they may reveal their political plans at the important farmers' meet in Rajkot on Friday, it appears that the event will strictly focus on farmers and their problems. According to the rebels, they will make their plans known only in the first week of October.

The Rajkot meet will see a huge congregation of farmers from Saurashtra and Kutch, which are politically important regions sending a total of 58 MLAs to the Assembly. Twelve MLAs and three MPs from the Congress and 10 MLAs and two MPs from the BJP rebel camp will be present at the meet.

"We don't want to annoy farmers by using the event as a platform to announce our political plans. Barring the 27 seats falling in urban areas, farmers wield influence over all Assembly segments," said a rebel.

With one of the rebels, Nalin Bhatt, joining the BSP, speculation was rife that the rest may join the Congress and that an announcement would be made at the meet.

"We will discuss how the farmers' interests have been jeopardised under the BJP's rule," said rebel leader Gordhan Zadaphia. The meet will also be a barometer of popularity of the second generation rebels.