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Modi refuses to relent on Pandya issue

By Our Special Correspondent

AHMEDABAD NOV. 23. The standoff between the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, and his former Cabinet colleague, Haren Pandya, over the latter's re-nomination to contest the Ellisbridge Assembly seat continued today. Monday is the last day for filing nominations.

The Bharatiya Janata Party announced the fourth list of 11 candidates for the December 12 elections leaving out only four constituencies, including Ellisbridge. Its decision to nominate the former Bajrang Dal president, Haresh Bhatt, for the Godhra seat, and deny it to the former MP, Gopalsinh Solanki, who was nursing the constituency for long, has sparked off large-scale dissent among the party workers.

Mr. Modi, who was admitted to the Gandhinagar civil hospital on Friday after he complained of chest pain and uneasiness, was shifted to the Ahmedabad civil hospital. In Mr. Modi's absence, other members of the State election committee met in Gandhinagar and cleared the candidates for the 11 constituencies. Sources in the BJP admitted that despite the high command's wishes, Mr. Modi had not budged from his stand that he would withdraw from the contest if Mr. Pandya was re-nominated for the Ellisbridge seat.

Asked for his comments, Mr. Pandya said that he had full confidence in the BJP high command and that he was sure of getting "justice." In Godhra, Mr. Solanki said he would try to convince the agitated workers to accept the party's decision and dedicate themselves to ensuring Mr. Bhatt's victory.

Mr. Bhatt is the only former VHP activist to have been accommodated in the BJP list of candidates. He quit the VHP and the Dal recently and officially joined the BJP to contest the elections. Mr. Modi is expected to be discharged tomorrow and would file his nomination papers from the Maninagar seat on Monday.

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