BJP dissidents -- detractors of Chief Minister Narendra Modi -- have formed a forum rather than floating a political outfit to keep their presence felt among the masses and dethrone Modi.
Gujarat Jan Andolan plans to generate public opinion against rising inflation
GANDHINAGAR: BJP dissidents -- detractors of Chief Minister Narendra Modi -- have formed a forum rather than floating a political outfit to keep their presence felt among the masses and dethrone Modi.
These leaders had gone into self-imposed hiatus after being forced to bite the dust in the assembly election in December 2007. The group has made a sudden resurgence apparently keeping in mind the coming Lok Sabha election.
The forum named as Gujarat Jan Andolan will expose the misdeeds and failures of the CM and the central government.
According to sources, the leaders met a week ago in Gandhinagar at former chief minister Suresh Mehta's residence and mooted a forum instead of forming a political party. The body is preparing ground to oust Modi.
Gujarat Jan Andolan recently staged two dharnas against the state government at Ahmedabad demanding that people-friendly policies in the wake of sky rocketing inflation.
Former home minister Gordhan Zadaphiya, who is associated with the new forum, said, "Gujarat Jan Andolan has no hierarchy. Everyone who wants to fight for the cause of Gujarat is welcome.
Before we float a political party, we will oppose the state government through this forum. We will generate public opinion against fuel price hike. The forum members will not use a motor vehicle every Monday. We will hold demonstrations in all the cities against inflation too.''
Meanwhile, Sunil Oza, an expelled BJP leader and former Bhavnagar MLA who fought the 2007 assembly election on Uma Bharti's Bharitya Janshakti Party ticket, has launched Rashtriya Swabhiman Manch.
It aims to protest against the policies of Narendra Modi and work on Hindutva agenda. Oza said he had left Uma's party after being disillusioned and will start mobilising district leaders and volunteers to join the body.
BJP dissidents are making tall claims about their unity and their common objective to dethrone Narendra Modi.
However, the reality is that the group is completely fragmented and do not have a consensus on several issues.
A leader, who is among the junior most to join the forum, said some members felt highly disappointed and their opinions were being bypassed and sidestepped by seniors.
"They (seniors) don't take initiative at the right time and keep telling us to wait and watch. The Lok Sabha elections are nearing and the seniors are not making any effort to give the anti-Modi campaign an impetus. Now, the junior leaders have decided to do something on our own. We (read the young leaders) have missed many opportunities where we could have slammed him (Modi). We are trying to reunite ourselves and are in the process of forming a new political party shortly."
d_kapil@dnaindia.net
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