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Former Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel, a prime contender for a Cabinet berth, is unlikely to join the government for health reasons.
According to Dr Vallabh Kathuria, a close aide of Keshubhai, "He has requested at least six months to trim down."
However, sources in the BJP said that Keshubhai Patel would not like to leave Gujarat in view of the coming assembly elections in the state.
Dissidents in the state BJP unit, unhappy with Narendra Modi's leadership, are rallying around Patel.
Keshubhai had to make way for Modi following the dismal performance of the BJP in two vital by-elections in the state, one being to the Sabarmati constituency, which falls under Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani's parliamentary constituency.
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