Keshubhai Patel to skip BJP's Mumbai conclave: Sources

"Patel has been invited to the national BJP executive meeting as former chief ministers are invited for such meetings. However, he has decided not to attend the meeting," sources close to him said.

Patel, a known detractor of chief minister Narendra Modi, had been in a political wilderness for four years and has become active in the election year and is of late attending different public gatherings and is openly criticising Modi.

In context with the national conclave, sources said that Patel has not attended any such meetings for the last many years.

"He (Patel) sees no point in going to Mumbai as the central leadership can not take any action against Modi, who they consider to be very powerful leader in the state," sources added.

Experts feel that Keshubhai's decision not to attend the Mumbai conclave in the election year is likely to affect BJP's performance in Gujarat as it will send a strong message across the powerful Patel community that the former chief minister is all set to confront the saffron party.

The news of Keshubhai skipping the meeting comes at a time when there is a suspense on weather Modi will attend the meeting owing to his alleged differences with party president Nitin Gadkari.

From beginning of this year, Patel, who was unceremoniously removed as chief minister in 2001 and replaced by Modi, has attended more than four major public gatherings and has openly criticised Modi.

The Patel community constitutes around 18 per cent of the state population.