Mehta to report on BJP debacle

After suffering a setback in the Lok Sabha elections in the state, BJP has begun an introspection exercise.

The party state unit will consider if there was a sabotage and the future of chief minister Narendra Modi, who led the campaign in the state, may come under scrutiny.

The party won 14 seats this time, seven less than the last time, while rival Congress bagged 12.

Senior BJP leaders including Modi, Keshubhai Patel, Suresh Mehta, Kashiram Rana and state party president Rajendrasinh Rana were among those who held the poll review meeting.

Ramdas Agarwal was the central observer at the meeting.

Suresh Mehta, co-ordinator of the election campaigning in Gujarat, has been asked to prepare a report on the party's dismal showing in the elections.

"Although I was present at the meeting, I am not sure whether the issue of sabotage will be part of the report that I am asked to submit. But by tomorrow, it will be clear exactly what I am be supposed to do. If my scope of duties includes examining the issue of sabotage, I will look into the issue," Mehta said.

Asked if his work will also include examining the possible future of the chief minister, Mehta replied in the negative.

"I do not think that the future of the chief minister, or how effectively he led the election campaign, will form part of the exercise," Mehta said.

Immediately after the poll results were out, state BJP president Rajendrasinh Rana said it was time for some introspection to ascertain possible reasons for the bad show of the party in Gujarat.

In fact, friction between various factions of the state unit of the party came to the fore immediately after the voting took place on April 20, with some candidates alleging that their own party members had worked against them during campaigning.

Congress has staged a comeback in the state.