This Article is From Jun 10, 2012

Sanjay Joshi posters come up in Rajkot ahead of Day 2 of BJP meeting

Rajkot: It's the second day of the BJP's state executive meeting in Gujarat that is taking place amidst reports of dissidence and internal bickering within the state unit of the party.

In a repeat of a similar incident a few days ago, posters supporting Sanjay Joshi appeared last night in Rajkot - the venue of that meeting. Mr Joshi, seen as Chief Minister Narendra Modi's fiercest political rival, had quit the BJP on the eve of the executive meet. He had already resigned from the party's national executive after working for 10 years following pressure from Mr Modi.

The posters were removed by BJP workers soon after they appeared.

The purpose of the two-day executive meet is to plan the party's strategy for the crucial Assembly elections scheduled later this year. BJP state leaders insist that Mr Joshi's exit will have no impact on the party's prospects in these elections.

The state unit is also facing major dissidence from former Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel and his supporters who have openly challenged Modi government's rule in the run up to the state elections. Mr Patel and his camp skipped the first day of the meeting when the party passed three resolutions.

Interestingly, the state executive meeting has been organised in Mr Patel's home town.

A resolution praising development in the ten-year rule of BJP will be passed today. Mr Modi will also address the gathering today, sources said.

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