Thursday, August 18 2005 10:37 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Key Gujarat dissident leader Keshubhai Patel yesterday (Aug 17, 2005) arrived in New Delhi with his supporters to highlight dissident activities in Gujarat before the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Central leadership, which, however, ruled out replacement of Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Patel, who had organised a show of strength at his residence in Gandhinagar on Tuesday (Aug 16, 2005) on arrival told reporters that 'all is not well' with the Gujarat BJP.

In a veiled attack on Modi, he said the alleged attempts to prevent the MLAs from meeting him on Tuesday exposed the 'frightening mindset of some of those in power'.

Though dissident leaders including Suresh Mehta, Kashiram Rana, A K Patel and some MLAs including Gordhan Zadafiya met among themselves, they did not meet the party central leadership.

Meanwhile in a rebuff to the dissidents, party general secretary in charge of Gujurat Om Mathur asserted 'Modi is doing a fantastic job. There is no question of replacing him."

The activities of the dissidents found a passing mention at a meeting of top party leaders here yesterday evening.

However, they appeared to play down the developments and backed Modi with party's Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu claiming, "We are not aware of any such demands (to remove Modi)".

"If there are problems or suggestions, we will keep meeting and discussing them," he said.

On Keshubhai Patel's arrival in Delhi, Naidu said, "He is a former Chief Minister and member of Parliament. He has come back with his wife from abroad. Nobody has told us about any problem".