Keshubhai Patel launches Gujarat Parivartan Party

Ahmedabad, Aug 6: Two-time

chief minister

launched his own party today and said that its candidates will be fielded in the forthcoming Assembly elections. The state is scheduled to go to the polls early in early 2013.

Keshubhai's main motivation for forming the Gujarat Parivartan Party is to strongly challenge Narendra Modi who succeeded him in 2001. The 84-year-old believes that by making common cause with other outfits which are not well disposed towards the CM, he will be able to help a non-BJP government to come to power next year.

This is why the bitter critic of Modi quit the ruling party, with which he has been associated for long, on Aug 4. "I am leaving with a lot of pain. The present BJP has gone miles away from democracy and has become insensitive towards the people," Keshubhai said.

"In this situation, I cannot remain silent and be a mute spectator and that is the reason I have decided to form a new party which will be the real BJP," he stressed.

"At this ripe age, I am not forming a new party for power as people have given me enough. My only aim is to give a better alternative to the people of the state," Keshubhai added.

The Mahagujarat Janata Party of former state minister Gordhan Zadafia is expected to merge with the Gujarat Parivartan Party soon. Recently Zadafia hinted at such a merger.

Given that opposition leaders in Gujarat had for months been instigating Keshubhai to revolt against the CM, the Congress could well strike up an alliance with his party before the Assembly elections.

OneIndia News