Modi 'rewards' BJP ex-rebels

GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday 'rewarded' several BJP leaders, who had once sided with his bete noire ex-CM Keshubhai Patel, with government postings. The most surprising is the induction of former MP Vallabh Kathiria, who was Union minister in the NDA government but later became one of the main campaigners against Modi. Kathiria was made chairman of the Gujarat Go Seva Ayog, one of the smallest state-run boards with little importance.

Kathiria was suspended from the BJP but was re-inducted after he apologised. He was one of the chief managers of the rebel rally in 2007, organized in association with Congress, at Rajkot. Gordhan Zadaphia, who heads the Mahagujarat Janata Party (MJP), which consists mainly of BJP rebels, said Kathiria's induction is "definitely a demotion for a man who once was Union minister handling portfolios like heavy industry and human resource development."

Another former rebel, Mahendra Trivedi, has been made chairman of the Gujarat Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board, which is responsible for overseeing the management of all major temples, including Somnath, Dwarka and Ambaji. Trivedi was part of the rebel coterie headed by another ex-CM Suresh Mehta, which at a later stage joined hands with Keshubhai Patel in his fight against Modi. Trivedi had served as minister of state for home and culture in two terms under Keshubhai Patel.

A third rebel, Kaushik Patel, who was not so active openly but worked as background man organising things for the rebels, has been made executive chairman of the Twenty Point Programme implementation committee, a defunct body. Patel has worked as Cabinet minister for energy and revenue in the state government.

Two other earlier rebels who have been inducted in the government are Mansukh Mandavia and Punam Makwana. If Mandavia has been made chairman of Gujarat Agro-Industries Corporation, which is on the verge of being closed down, Makwana is the new chairman of the Bechar Swami Ati Pacchat Vikas Board, a small agency.

Several well-known pro-Modi men who were out of job have also been awarded. Ex-minister Bhuprendrasinh Chudasma has been made vice-chairman of the Gujarat Planning State Board, almost non-existent body. Jayanti Barot, former Rajya Sabha MP, has been made chairman of the Gujarat Housing Construction Board. Purshottam Bhojani, a Saurashtra-based businessman and BJP leader, is chairman of the Jamnagar Urban Development Corporation.