BJP's policy to insult senior leaders, says Congress spokesperson

Describing Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel's refusal to take over charge of ministries allotted to him as a result of reported tug-of-war between him and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, the Opposition Congress took a dig at the ruling party saying it was the BJP's policy to insult senior leaders.

"It is the BJP's policy to humiliate senior leaders and to marginalise them - starting with Keshubhai Patel, Anandiben Patel, AK Patel, Shivlal Vekaria, Vallabh Kathiria and Narottam Patel. Now, the BJP has put Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel in a similar position," state Congress president Manish Doshi told reporters on Saturday.

He was reacting to the crisis that has engulfed the BJP since yesterday by a sulking Nitin Patel, who feeling slighted by the ministries allocated to him, refused to take charge. A full-blown revolt is unlikely, and Nitin Patel himself ruled out any plans to quit BJP, but the crisis is seen intensifying over the next few days.

Accusing the BJP of using the Patidar community as a vote-bank, Doshi said, "The BJP sought money and votes from the Patidars during the elections. Now that elections are over, the party is dealing injustice and insult to the community."