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Journalism of Courage
Gujarat CM Narendra Modi sprang a surprise today by visiting his main party rival and rebel camp leader Keshubhai Patel. The lunch meeting is being seen in the backdrop of initial trends showing the BJP faring well in district and panchayat elections.
Neither Modi nor Patel were available for comment on what they discussed. But party sources maintained that Modi had gone to seek Patel’s advice on irrigation and water management. As Rajya Sabha MP, Patel is chairman of the Union Agriculture Ministry’s sub-group on dryland farming, wasteland development and watershed experiments.
Sources close to Patel said Modi called up about 12.30 pm, seeking to meet Patel for ‘‘guidance’’ on those topics. Politics was not discussed, sources said.
