After the “Rajasva Samaroh” in Surat turned into a major embarrassment for the ruling BJP, former chief minister Anandiben Patel’s presence in New Delhi gave rise to speculation that she had been summ
After the “Rajasva Samaroh” in Surat turned into a major embarrassment for the ruling BJP, former chief minister Anandiben Patel’s presence in New Delhi gave rise to speculation that she had been summoned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Along with Ms Patel, BJP national president Amit Shah, chief minister Vijay Rupani and state unit chief Jitu Vaghani were also present on the dias when some protestors created ruckus during the event on Thursday.
Ms Patel, who had to quit as chief minister in August, reached Gujarat Bhawan in New Delhi on Friday evening. Gujarat government officials maintained that Ms Patel was here for the inauguration of an outlet of the NGO run by her daughter, Anar Patel, at Lodhi Colony.
Ms Patel took a large portion of the blame for failing to handle the Patel agitation in Gujarat, where Assembly elections are scheduled for 2017. Her government’s failure to control the Dalit unrest was also a reason for the BJP leadership to go for the change of guard in the state.
The Surat event, to felicitate the party’s Patidar legislators, was meant to send out the message that the BJP still enjoyed the support of the numerically dominant Patel community. It was organised by the real estate developers and diamond merchants of Surat to express the community’s confidence in the BJP government.
It was also meant to send a message to the Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti that the Patidars supported the BJP.
However, Mr Shah, Mr Rupani and Mr Vaghani had to cut their speeches short amid massive disruption by young Patidar agitators. This, despite the heavy deployment of police personnel and BJP supporters. The police had to use lathis and teargas to quell the protesters.
Sources said the show of strength was Mr Shah’s idea. The Gujarat government had reportedly pulled out all stops to make the function a success.
Ms Patel became Gujarat chief minister in May 2014, but there were complaints that she wasn’t able to manage the administration.
