New Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president M Venkaiah Naidu today (May 28, 2004) categorically stated that there was no proposal to replace Narendra Modi as Chief Minister of Gujarat.

Naidu, who met former Gujarat Chief Minister and dissident leader Suresh Mehta earlier, told reporters that rebel MLA Purushottam Solanki had telephoned him and apologised for his public statement against Modi.

"I have advised all of them that the State Assembly session is on and they should help the Government in countering the opposition criticism. If there is any problem, we can sit and discuss it," he said.

"I have told them that the statement given to the media is neither in the interest of the party nor in their interest," the party chief said.

About 60 of the 127 party MLA's, headed by Solanki, last night came out with the demand for change of leadership at the birthday party of veteran BJP leader A K Patel in view of the party's slide in the Lok Sabha polls in the State.