Gujarat, Karnataka, Goa, UP- Election 2007 - 2

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<!--emo&--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo--> BJP prefers a weakened CM in Gujarat
13 Dec, 2007, 0426 hrs IST,Girish Kuber, TNN


AHMEDABAD: In Gujarat, even the BJP is getting the taste of Narendra Modi’s high-handed behaviour. The fact that Modi is single-handedly leading the BJP in one of the most crucial electoral battles has put the party in a peculiar position. The party is not as much worried about Modi’s come back as it is concerned about his strength. It certainly wants the incumbent chief minister to carry on the BJP flag but, on weak shoulders.

“We are more or less sure about him coming back. His victory would propel us to a higher sphere in the looming Lok Sabha elections. It’s important for us to take on the Congress, a top BJP leader associated with Gujarat elections told ET.

He, however, hastened to add a word of caution about the party’s internal dynamics. “Modi retaining the same strength post-election would weaken the party organisation,” he confided.

In the current house, BJP has 127 MLAs and the Congress 51 of the total 182. That the party and the organisation have taken back seat during Modi’s regime has not gone down well within the party. “Modi has bulldozed the party mechanism. It’s all only Modi, Modi and Modi alone for the party in the state. It’s not ideal situation for the party in the long run,” he explained.

This was evident everywhere. The man at the helm in Gujarat is driving the BJP almost single-handedly. He has successfully converted the ongoing electoral battle as one between him and the Congress and not one between two parties.

“It’s the kind of personal cult that the Parivar doesn’t approve of,” a senior RSS functionary from Maharashtra, involved in Gujarat said.