Gujarat BJP tries to make up with RSS brass

With the divide between the BJP and the rest of the Sangh Parivar in Gujarat out in the open, state BJP leaders arrived here to meet senior RSS office-bearers.

State BJP President Purushottam Rupala, state minister Kaushik Patel and senior leader Amit Shah are understood to have met senior RSS apparachtik Mohan Bhagwat.

"The main point of discussion was containment of VHP leader Praveen Togadia, who has come out openly against Chief Minister Narendra Modi. One of the aims was to calm the fear that the RSS has with regard to Modi," said a source in the party.

Modi has been accused by Togadia and the RSS in the state of dictatorial manners and sideling the sangh outfits. Many cases related to the 2002 Gujarat riots are against the VHP and RSS cadre, something which is seen as Modi's way to keep these outfits in check.

The leaders also met party President Rajnath Singh. BJP General Secretary in charge of Gujarat, Arun Jaitley, meanwhile, appears to be working hard to win over the dissidents in the party's state unit. He has reportedly spoken to the leader of the dissidents, former Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel, and claims to be in touch with all "relevant" people in the state unit. Another dissident, Suresh Mehta, has also arrived in Delhi and is expected to meet senior party leaders.

This reconciliation is crucial to the party's plan for retaining power in the state. The party says it is keenly watching developments like the entry of the Bahujan Samaj Party in the electoral fray.

"We will be happy at a multi-cornered fight, which will work to our advantage," said a top source in the party.