Right through the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP defended the Modi government for its handling of the Gujarat riots but today, exactly a month after his government was voted out, Atal Behari Vajpayee stunned the party and its Parivar by saying that he at one stage favoured Modi’s removal but had to ultimately go along with ‘‘all shades of opinion’’ within. Leaving Modi-backers in the party squirming, the former Prime Minister said the issue of a leadership change in Gujarat would figure at the BJP national executive meeting in Mumbai, starting June 22. His statement comes after NDA partners, one by one, blamed the Gujarat factor for the defeat of the alliance and their own poor showing at the hustings. Vajpayee told Zee TV in an interview in Manali, where he’s holidaying, that he was personally in favour of Modi’s removal in the aftermath of the Gujarat riots but there were two opinions in the party. When it was left to him to decide, he had to take in mind ‘‘all shades of opinion.’’ ‘‘There were two opinions on the question of removal of Modi after the riots. Some people wanted his removal. I was of the same opinion. But the entire responsibility was put on me and I had to take a decision keeping in mind all shades of opinion. I felt that holding elections would be more beneficial.’’ ‘‘We are thinking afresh on the situation in Gujarat. The matter will be considered at the Mumbai meeting of the national executive. Leadership change is also an issue,’’ he said. ‘‘We have to see what will be the losses and gains in that. We will have to have new policies.’’ As for the party suffering losses due to Modi, Vajpayee said, ‘‘On this also there were different opinions. But we did not realise that this strategy would be expoited so much outside Gujarat. The kind of films that were distributed. The whole thing was run like a campaign.’’ He agreed that it would have been better if the party had removed Modi. He said a new strategy will have to be thought out putting behind the damage the Gujarat riots did to the party’s image. ‘‘Whatever damage could have happened has happened. Now, we have to think of a new beginning.’’ • Phansi taiyar raakhta hoy to bhaley taiyar raakhey, amey toh amaru kaam chaalu rakhishu (Let them keep a noose ready, but we will do our work and duty come what may) — Narendra Modi, Gujarat Chief Minister • Some people, who call themselves as modern, liberal and broad-minded have been endeavouring to keep the Gujarat riots alive. Our former prime minister says Gujarat riots were a reason for BJP’s defeat. How is it then that the BJP didn’t lose in Madhya Pradesh, Rajashtan and Chhattisgarh? — K C Sudershan, RSS Sarsanghchalak • Vajpayee and leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani, rather than Modi, were responsible for the defeat. BJP outdid the Congress in appeasing minority community. It got a fatwa issued by the Shahi Imam of Delhi to Muslims. The Dargah Dewan of Ajmer was among those who flagged off Advani’s yatra. This alienated BJP’s traditional voters — Pravin Togadia, VHP general secretary On Sunday afternoon, state BJP president Rajendrasinh Rana, who until now maintained that there was no question of a leadership change, said if a discussion on Modi’s fate was on the national executive agenda, it would surely be taken up. ‘‘Party president Venkaiah Naidu sets the agenda and accordingly matters will be taken up. You’ll have to wait and see,’’ Rana said. He said the high command was aware of the recent developments in the state unit and the grievances of the MLAs. Gordhan Zadaphia, former Gujarat Home Minister, who has been leading the dissidents, said: ‘‘What they discuss at the national executive is not our concern. We have made it amply clear what we want and what our grievances, suggestions are. Now it is for the party to decide. Whatever they decide will be for the best.’’ Modi supporters seemed cautious, uncertain. ‘‘The party leadership has every right to discuss the Gujarat issue. Let things take their own course,’’ said Agriculture Minister Bhupendra Chudasama, a Modi confidant. Another Modi supporter, Jayanti Barot, a Rajya Sabha MP and BJP state general secretary, said: ‘‘Several reasons for the BJP failure in the elections are being discussed. Gujarat is also being taken up. Let’s wait and see.’’ But MLAs and MPs, unhappy with Modi, are stepping up their campaign by keeping the party leadership in Delhi posted through Keshubhai Patel. Keshubhai, Rana, and former Union minister Kashiram Rana will be attending the Mumbai meeting. Modi, too, will be there. Keshubhai, who is in Rajkot, today declined comment. But a senior MLA said: ‘‘The Assembly session is over. The BJP central leadership assured us it would take a decision on this. We think it is time action is taken.’’
