Rebel BJP MP plays his cards close to his chest

AHMEDABAD: With both the ruling coalition and the opposition striving to secure every vote possible ahead of Tuesday's confidence motion, a rebel Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) MP from Gujarat on Sunday refused to comment which side he would support.

"I will let you know tonight whether I will vote for the NDA," said Somabhai Patel.

He said he has not yet decided on the vote. "There is still a whole day tomorrow (before the trust vote)," Patel said.

The Koli leader who represents the Surendranagar constituency has vowed vengeance for his personal humiliation by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

An informed BJP source said: "Taking Somabhai back into the BJP fold is very unlikely. His son had contested on Congress ticket in the December assembly election. He is very persistent in his anti-BJP activities and there is little chance of his suspension being cancelled."

Meanwhile, BJP MP Vallabhbhai Kathiria, a former central minister who was suspended, offered unconditional apology this month for his anti-party activities and he was taken back in the BJP.

The party also revoked the suspension of Babubhai Kataria, an MP who was arrested last year trying to smuggle out a woman and her son to Canada in an immigration scam and is now languishing in jail.