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VHP not to support Modi in elections

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has decided to stay away from the State Assembly elections scheduled to be held by the year-end.

VHP international general secretary Pravin Togadia told the Parishad workers at a convention here on Sunday not to extend any help to Chief Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP in the coming elections.

A member of the Sangh Parivar, of which the BJP is the political wing, the VHP has been alienating itself from Mr. Modi since the party’s resounding victory in the 2002 Assembly elections.

Without naming Mr. Modi, Dr. Togadia said: “No one should consider himself the most powerful person and ruling over the hearts of the people.”

Claiming that the VHP support was crucial for the BJP to win elections, Dr. Togadia said the BJP had won the last elections owing to the support of the VHP and Sangh Parivar. Coming close on the heels of the heightened dissident activity, the decision of the VHP, though on expected lines, will add to the problems of the BJP and Mr. Modi. With their ranks continuing to swell, the VHP move will further encourage the dissidents to throw challenges to the Chief Minister openly.

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