08-02-2005, 12:55 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Modi expands ministry </b>
PTI/ Gandhinagar
Differences in the Gujarat BJP came to the fore during the first cabinet expansion of the Narendra Modi Government, when his known baiter, Goardha Zadafiya refused to take oath even as 11 others were sworn in as Ministers of State.
Drama unfolded at the makeshift venue of the swearing-in ceremony when Zadafiya, known to be close to Modi's bete-noire and predecessor Keshubhai Patel, refused to take oath telling reporters that he was not keen to get into the cabinet. "I feel that my workers cannot get justice in the present conditions (in Gujarat), I am not keen to be part of the Cabinet. I am and will remain a soldier of BJP and will work for the party," he said denying that he was rebelling against the Chief Minister openly.
Zadafiya said he had "considered this decision all night and had made up his mind, without anyone's influence".
Those who were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Naval Kishore Sharma at Raj Bhavan include <b>Bharat Barot, Jasu Korat, Ratibhai Sureja, Mulubhai Bera, Purshottam Solanki, Jaswantsinh Bhabhor, Bhupendrasinh Lakhawala, Sundersinh Chauhan, Chatarsinh Mori, C D Patel and Harjivan Patel.</b>
Solanki, a powerful leader of the Koli community, who called Modi a "Hitler", at a function in May last year but later apologised, was among those inducted into the Cabinet. The expansion, the first since Modi assumed office in December 2002, was held at a time when Keshubhai Patel is in United States on a personal visit.Â
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Finally, he had decided to expand ministry under pressure.
PTI/ Gandhinagar
Differences in the Gujarat BJP came to the fore during the first cabinet expansion of the Narendra Modi Government, when his known baiter, Goardha Zadafiya refused to take oath even as 11 others were sworn in as Ministers of State.
Drama unfolded at the makeshift venue of the swearing-in ceremony when Zadafiya, known to be close to Modi's bete-noire and predecessor Keshubhai Patel, refused to take oath telling reporters that he was not keen to get into the cabinet. "I feel that my workers cannot get justice in the present conditions (in Gujarat), I am not keen to be part of the Cabinet. I am and will remain a soldier of BJP and will work for the party," he said denying that he was rebelling against the Chief Minister openly.
Zadafiya said he had "considered this decision all night and had made up his mind, without anyone's influence".
Those who were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Naval Kishore Sharma at Raj Bhavan include <b>Bharat Barot, Jasu Korat, Ratibhai Sureja, Mulubhai Bera, Purshottam Solanki, Jaswantsinh Bhabhor, Bhupendrasinh Lakhawala, Sundersinh Chauhan, Chatarsinh Mori, C D Patel and Harjivan Patel.</b>
Solanki, a powerful leader of the Koli community, who called Modi a "Hitler", at a function in May last year but later apologised, was among those inducted into the Cabinet. The expansion, the first since Modi assumed office in December 2002, was held at a time when Keshubhai Patel is in United States on a personal visit.Â
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Finally, he had decided to expand ministry under pressure.