A closed-door meeting of BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, former Deputy Prime Minister lK Advani and former Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel on Wednesday has created ripples in political circles of Gujarat.
The meeting at the Ahmedabad Circuit House may turn out to be a crucial factor ahead of upcoming general elections in 2014 against the backdrop of rumors pertaining to the BJP rebel and Gujarat Parivartan Party founder’s re-entry in the saffron fold.
Advani arrived at Ahmedabad airport in the morning and straight away moved to the Circuit House where Keshubhai Patel was already waiting for him. The Gujarat Chief Minister joined them later on. Sources close to the development said that, the closed door meeting was initiated after the completion of Shri Somnath Trust meeting. The top political leaders are trustees in the religious trust. The troika also took lunch together.
After being crowned as BJP’s PM candidate, Modi went to Patel’s residence in Gandhinagar to seek his blessings. Patel not only congratulated him but also distributed sweets. Even during the recently concluded Monsoon Session of the Gujarat Assembly, Patel took soft stance and didn’t support Opposition Congress in the walkout.
Meanwhile, at the Shri Somnath Trust meeting, former Gujarat Chief Secretary PK laheri remained present apart from the troika. laheri, who is also one of the trustees, said that the leaders reviewed various development activities of Somnath Trust. Other trustees including Harsh Neotia (Ambuja Cement), business magnet Rajen Kilachand, Professor JD Parmar and former MP hailing from Bhavangar Prasannvadan Mehta did not attend the meeting. The meeting was chaired by chairman of the trust Keshubhai Patel.
Though Patel’s term as chairman has expired in March 2013, point pertaining to appointment of new chairman was not discussed at the meeting. Interestingly, Modi was inducted into the board against the wish of Patel in 2009.