Keshubhai Patel quits BJP; announces to form a new party

Former Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel on Saturday has resigned of his primary membership from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He was looking annoyed and dissatisfied.

This sulking leader?s resignation came a month ahead of state assembly election. He has also announced to form a new party.

Besides, Patel, his loyalist Kashiram Rana has also quit BJP.

Attacking to Modi, Patel said, "Narendra Modi is a 'demon' who is responsible for the misery of common people of Gujarat. As per our ancient tales, the life of demons used to be in some bird. To win the fight against such demons, the hero has to kill the bird. In the same way, Modi's life is in your votes. Do not give him vote and he will be finished," Patel said.

"Somebody gave me a suggestion that I should sit quietly at this age as I have achieved everything in my long political career. But I saw people are suffering and in these circumstances I cannot sit at home," Patel, who is leading the anti-Modi group within BJP, said.

Commenting upon to organize his own party, Keshubhai said, "Hindutva used in liberal and broad sense will be the ideology of the new party. This version of Hindutva will also mean working for the welfare of the Muslim community."

In the last few months, Patel had openly criticised Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi at various public meetings. He had alleged that the people of Gujarat were living in fear under Modi's rule.

Patel was unceremoniously removed from the chief minister's post in 2001 and was replaced by Modi.

However, BJP looks not much worried as party leader Rajiv Pratap Rudi said, "He can do what he wants."

--With Agencies Inputs--