With the conclusion of  presidential election, the Gujarat state BJP is now all set to take action against rebellious partymen. 

State BJP president Purushottam Rupala indicated as much during a party members’  meeting in Surat, when he said serious disciplinary action would be taken against those who breached the party’s authority.

The open show of belligerence of party MLA Dhiru Gajera, who waved the Gujarat government magazine that published an article attesting Pakistan leader Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s secular credentials during the Assembly session on Friday or the well attended block meetings of Patel MLAs across the state that have become  platforms for criticising state government policies, have not gone well with the party.

Rupala, a close Modi aide, who had displayed remarkable patience until the presidential election, is now in a mood to send a clear signal to rebels including MLAs and MPs.

Prominent among those are MLAs Dhiru Gajera, Bavku Unghad, Balu Tanti and party leader Bechar Bhadani, led by Gordhan Jhadafiya.

Also on the hit list are MP Soma Ganda and Dr Vallabh Kathiria. In fact, Gajera had gone as far as to call BJP leader L K Advani Dhritrashtra and Modi Duryodhan for ignoring the other party members.

While not all of these leaders may face the axe from the party, Rupala hinted that selective action was likely to compel others to fall in line.

Bhadani had openly shown solidarity with Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Arjun Modhwadia, when he recently sat on a 72 hour hunger strike, against  alleged corruption to the tune of Rs 500 crore in the Sujalam Sufalam project.

Three other leaders had met him earlier outside the media glare, whereas several are believed to have expressed solidarity with  Modhwadia.

The recent complaint of phone tapping by rebel MLAs to Governor Nawal Kishore Sharma and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil also had the same tone and tenor.

The Patidar Samaj block meetings are also proving to be  platforms for local Congress leaders  to indulge in Modi-bashing.

A rebel BJP MLA claimed that his group was prepared for action, so that it could openly campaign against Modi. Suspended MLA Siddharth Parmar claimed that the Assembly had 45 MLAs supporting Keshubhai Patel.
However, the presidential election had proved that Keshubhai could be reigned in.

The rebels have already set the tone and all eyes are now on the party leadership.