Date:26/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/26/stories/2007122653681200.htm

National

Narendra Modi meets Keshubhai

Manas Dasgupta

Observers attach much significance to the visit

GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called on his arch rival and predecessor Keshubhai Patel to seek his blessings before starting his new innings at the helm of affairs in the State.

Soon after his swearing-in on Tuesday afternoon, Mr. Modi went to Mr. Patel’s residence here and was with him for about 20 minutes. What transpired between them was not known, but the sources close to both the leaders said it was a courtesy call.

The political observers here, however, attached much significance to the visit particularly in the light of Mr. Modi’s address to the BJP legislature party members on Monday where he talked about “building a new bridge” with the dissidents.

Mr. Patel, who went all out against Mr. Modi before the elections and refused to campaign for the BJP despite being with the organisation for more than five decades, was issued a show-cause notice by the party high command for his alleged anti-party activities. BJP State election in-charge, Arun Jaitley, had met Mr. Patel several times before the elections to pacify him but the former chief minister insisted on removing Mr. Modi as the leader for him to canvass for the party. He had predicted BJP’s rout in the elections if Mr. Modi was projected as the chief ministerial candidate, but the outcomeproved him wrong.

The massive success in the elections despite facing multiple opposition, including from within the party, seems to have changed Mr. Modi’s attitude towards his erstwhile detractors, particularly senior leaders like Mr. Patel. The Chief Minister repeatedly asked his partymen to take the victory in “all humility” and “be guided by your conscience,” and in an obvious reference to the leaders like Mr. Patel, said, “We are not big enough to pardon them, but we can always hug them and build a new bridge” forgetting the differences.

Mr. Modi had called on Mr. Patel on several occasions before the elections also, but Tuesday’s meeting was considered significant.

A positive response from Mr. Patel may lead to the high command postponing a disciplinary action at least for the time being and make another rapprochement bid with Mr. Patel, and possibly also with the former Union Textiles Minister, Kashiram Rana, who too was issued a show-cause notice.