Minister seeks to quit Modi govt

BJP on boil, advani mission fails

Cracks reappeared in the Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today with a state minister seeking to resign from the ministry after he was "humiliated" by the Narendra Modi Cabinet for visiting senior leader Kesbubhai Patel at his residence on August 17.

Bhavku Unghad, minister of state for youth and cultural affairs, submitted a letter, addressed to state BJP chief Vaju Vala, seeking permission to resign.

The development comes just a day after BJP chief LK Advani announced here that "the state BJP had strengthened under Modi's leadership" and also endorsed his "honest" governance.

Countering the allegations of Unghad, Vala today recommended to Modi to drop him from the ministry. "His claims are baseless and wrong. I have personally spoken to the chief minister and he has denied the statement that Unghad was humiliated in the Cabinet meeting," Vala said.

Hitting out at Unghad, Vala said following the developments today he had asked Modi to drop the minister from his Cabinet. Vala said he had briefed Modi about the developments and also expressed his personal view to drop Unghad from the ministry due to his behaviour and now the decision was up to the chief minister.

When asked about the turn of events in the past few days in the Gujarat BJP, Vala said, "it is not associated with the dissidence activity in the state. This is an isolated incident."

In a dramatic turn of events, Unghad who was hospitalised in his Amreli constituency on August 18, turned up at the party office here in an ambulance and handed over the letter to an office-bearer as the party president was away.

Unghad was allegedly chided in the Cabinet a day earlier after going to Keshubhai's house, where scores of party workers MLAs and MPs of the rebel faction were also present.

Unghad's resignation is expected to strike a blow to Modi as Advani and the party high command have endorsed his leadership qualities on more than one occasion and have categorically hinted to the rebels that there would be no change in guard in Gujarat.

Khurana gets notice

BJP veteran Madan Lal Khurana was today served a show-cause notice seeking his explanation for his attack on party chief LK Advani.

"The notice has been hand-delivered to Khurana by a BJP functionary giving him 10 days time to give his explanation," BJP spokesperson Sushma Swaraj said.