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Waghelas served with show-cause notice - The Times of India

The Times of India News Service ()
9 August 1996

Title : Waghels served with show-cause notice
Author : The Times of India News Service
Publication : The Times of India
Date : August 9, 1996

Controversial BJP leader and former state unit president
Shankarsinh Waghela was, on Thursday, served with a show-
cause notice asking him to explain why disciplinary
action should not be taken against him for his "anti
-party activities."

Pradesh unit president Vajubhai Vala has asked the
dissident leader to clarify his position within 48 hours,
regarding the meeting convened by him at Gandhinagar on
Tuesday, which chalked out the strategy to form a
regional party by August 20.

The BJP central leadership has decided to take a "tough
stand" against the rebel leader who has threatened to
launch a new party - Bharatiya Janata Party (Sardar) - on
August 20. "No anti-party activities would be tolerated
this time," it asserted.

After waiting for nearly 48 hours to consider the pros
and cons of initiating action against Mr Waghela, the
central leadership of the party summoned chief minister
Suresh Mehta to Delhi on Thursday morning and conveyed
the decision to him,

The chief minister,who was trying to strike a balance
between the "Hajurias" and the "Khajurias" for the past
few months, is believed to have been told in clear terms
by the party high command that he would have to distance
himself from Mr Waghela and toe the official line.
Mr Mehta has been asked to stay on in Delhi for further
consultations.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Vala said he would
apprise the national leadership on Thursday about the
latest political situation in the state.

He will also hold consultations with national vice-
president and former chief minister Keshubhai Patel on
how to ward off the crisis that may follow if
disciplinary action is taken against the dissident
leader.

Already, many senior party functionaries and ministers
have established contact with "potential defectors" to
appease them and win them over to their side by offering
them some "lucrative posts" in statutory corporations and
boards.

Mr Waghela has called a convention of supporters, claimed
to be numbering more than 50,000, on August 20 to
formalise the split in the party.

Sources said If Mr Waghela went ahead with his plan to
float a regional party, he would not be able to muster
the support of the requisite number of BJP legislators to
split the legislature party without inviting the
anti defection law.

They also maintained that Mr Waghela may not be able to
carry conviction with many prominent leaders of the state
unit, to part company with the parent organisation.

However, many supporters of Mr Waghela privately claimed
that it was now certain that the BJP was heading for a
vertical split in the state. They maintained that Mr
Waghela had done enough ground work to "cripple" the
party. Though they admitted that there was no danger to
the Suresh Mehta ministry immediately, it was certain
that the BJP ministry may not survive its full term.

Mr Mehta claimed that there was no Immediate threat to
his ministry. He warned that action would be taken
against Mr Waghela for anti-party activities if he went
ahead with the rally.

He said there was no place for a regional party in the
state and the "people were not in favour of it." Even if
a new party was formed it would become a non-entity, he
asserted.

It is also reported that Mr Waghela will meet Shiv Sena
chief Bal Thackeray, Rajasthan chief minister Bhairon
Singh Shekhavat and defence minister Mulayam Singh Yadav
in the near future.

It is doubtful whether former state party chief Kashiram
Rana will immediately join forces with Mr Waghela.


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