Wednesday, May 25 2005 07:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Ahmedabad: Rebels in the Gujarat Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) yesterday (May 24, 2005) refrained from attending the party organised for both the outgoing and the newly-appointed State party chief that was hosted by Chief Minister Narendra Modi, sources said in Ahmedabad.

Dissident MLAs like Gordhan Zhadafiya, Dhiru Gajera, Bhavin Sheth and even former Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, a known Modi critic, senior leader Kashiram Rana and Lok Sabha MP A K Patel did not attend the function that was held at the Chief Minister's bungalow, sources from the anti-Modi said.

The dinner was hosted by Modi to welcome the new State BJP president Vaju Vala and bid farewell to Rajendrasinh Rana.

Several MLAs from the anti-Modi camp had indicated on Monday (May 23, 2005) itself about their plan to refrain from attending the function to show that their stand (of being anti-Modi) was clear.

Even journalists were not allowed beyond the main gate of the Chief Minister's residence making it tough to know exactly as to how many persons attended the function.

The outgoing state BJP president Rana had said on Monday that he would try and use the farewell function as a platform to bridge the gap between the 'unhappy' MLAs and Modi.

Vala, the State Finance Minister, was appointed as new state BJP chief by national president L K Advani on May 13.

Known to be close to Modi after giving his Assembly seat of Rajkot during the 2002 by-elections, Vala took the mantle from Rana with an enormous task to make truce between the 'unhappy' MLAs and the Chief Minister.

The Opposition Congress also took strong objection to the function and accused Modi of misusing his office by sending party invitations on Government letterheads.