Keshubhai's exit takes Leuva Patels away from BJP, party worried

After Keshubhai Patel's exit from the BJP, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi may be ignoring him but certainly not the party per se. With Patel floating his new political outfit the Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP), the BJP vote bank of the rich Leuva Patels comes under a threat, a Times of India report said.[caption id="attachment_507755" align="alignleft" width="380"] Keshubhai Patel. AFP[/caption] Leuva Patels constitute anything between 20 percent to 50 percent votes on at least 40 out of total 182 seats."While most of these constituencies are concentrated in Saurashtra, there are pockets in central Gujarat and south Gujarat that have a large number of Patel supporters"—the Times of India report said. Significantly, BJP has no other leader who can challenge Patel's clout, forcing the party to scramble and look for someone who can fill the gap. "The Bharatiya Kisan Sangh, who has a large number of Patel followers, is aggressively campaigning against Modi. VHP leader Pravin Togadia, himself a Leuva Patel, is likely to make matters worse for the Gujarat CM"— the Times of India report said.