After government warded off the opposition challenge in the Lok Sabha on the Gujarat issue, state BJP MPs met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee after which a top leader ruled out removal of Chief Minister Narendra Modi declaring that the next assembly polls in the state would be fought under his leadership.
State BJP president Rajendrasinh Rana told reporters after an hour-long meeting the MPs had with Vajpayee that the Gujarat issue did not figure during their talks which revolved round the developmental issues especially those pending with the Centre.

The next assembly elections will be fought under Modi's leadership, Rana said when asked about the possibility of the removal of the chief minister in the wake of opposition demand as also from some of the NDA allies.

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The delegation led by former Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel also thanked the Prime Minister for the Rs 150 crore special package for the state.
Stating that they met Vajpayee on the occasion of Gujarat Day, minister of state for defence production Harin Pathak said the MPs raised issues such as hike in the royalty for indigenous crude oil, sharing of profit under the new exploration licensing policy and raising of the Sardar Sarovar Project to 110 meters.

They said that Prime Minister assured that he would convene a meeting with petroleum minister Ram Naik as early as possible on the royalty issue.
Bureau Report