On his first trip to the national capital after taking of oath as Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday discussed the formation of his ministry with the central BJP leadership.

The chief minister is also understood to have deliberated disciplinary action against dissident BJP leaders, including veteran Keshubhai Patel and former Union minister Kansiram Rana, who had been issued show-cause notices for alleged anti-party activities.

Modi, who arrived at the capital at 10.30 am to a rousing welcome, drove down first to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L K Advani’s Prithviraj Road residence and remained closeted with him for nearly four hours. BJP president Rajnath Singh, former union minister Arun Shourie and Rajya Sabha member and editor Chandan Mitra were also present.

Cabinet formation
“I discussed cabinet formation in Gujarat,” Modi told newspersons after the meeting.

He then proceeded to call on former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to seek his “ashirvad”.

The next BJP National Council and National Executive meet at Bangalore, starting on January 27, is expected to reflect Modi’s new found political clout and give him a chance to “flex his muscles”.

The Chief Minister has apparently suggested that the party take “a lenient view” of the pre-poll dissident’s activities as he would now like to start his inning on a positive note.