Rediff

Ahmadabad, Jul 23: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday cracked the whip on detractors of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as it suspended five of the party legislators from the state who are suspected to have cross-voted in favour of United Progressive Alliance-Left presidential candidate Pratibha Patil.

BJP chief Rajnath Singh ordered the suspension of party MLAs Dhirubhai Gajera, one of the most vocal in criticising Modi ahead of the presidential election, Gordhan Jhadaphia, Balubhai Tanti, Becharbhai Bhadani and Bavkubhai Undhad, party sources said.

Rajnath, however, cited indiscipline as the reason behind the move.

"They have been suspended for breach of discipline," a party source said.

But the suspension came barely two days after results of the July 19 election showed cross-voting from the Gujarat BJP camp in favour of Pratibha.

In her last news conference as spokesperson for Nnational Democratic Alliance-backed candidate Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, whose party leader Lal Kishenchand Advani had called for a conscience vote in the presidential election, had indicated that taking action could be difficult against anybody for voting in favour of Pratibha.

Under pressure to act to rein in rebellion in Gujarat ahead of the Assembly elections there, the BJP chief appointed general secretary Arun Jaitley as overall in charge of the party election management in the state.

After the UP debacle, Rajnath Singh gave Jaitley, who was understood to have been interested in Gujarat that he represents in the Rajya Sabha, the charge of Uttar Pradesh.