BJP brass stands by cornered Modi

NEW DELHI: Seeing the writing on the wall, Gujarat CM Narendra Modi - who put great premium on inaccessibility - was suddenly trying to reach out to the MLAs to stem the revolt against him.
He met 20 MLAs on Friday, playing a patient listener and showing empathy as the MLAs reeled off their grievances. The amazing metamorphosis of the man widely perceived to be arrogant did not go unnoticed.
Coming out of meetings, the MLAs said they found a changed Modi: someone who seemed keen to hear their grievances and also showed his intent to solve them.
The trigger for the moodswing have been the standard of rebellion hoisted by MLAs who have leapt on the BJP''s poor show in Gujarat to try forcing a leadership change.
On Thursday night, 60 of the 127 party MLAs demanded Modi''s exit at the birthday bash of veteran BJP leader A K Patel.
With the demand to replace Modi as Gujarat CM gathering momentum, his predecessor Suresh Mehta rushed to Delhi to discuss the political situation with BJP chief Venkaiah Naidu and earlier, with general secretary (organisation) Sanjay Joshi.
He briefed the leaders about the growing resentment within the state unit against Modi''s style of functioning, party sources said.
Mehta is also expected to meet party leaders, including Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani, on Saturday.
On his part, Advani told reporters on Friday that efforts were on to resolve the crisis. "Naidu is talking to Gujarat leaders. I am confident that the problem would be resolved," he said.