Ahmedabad, Jul - Gujarat is likely to witness a triangular fight in this year's Assembly elections, as dissident BJP leaders, opposed to Chief Minister Narendra Modi and led by former Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel, are set to float their own party.

The other two contenders are well-entrenched ruling BJP and the main opposition Congress. Keshubhai's group has indicated that he would form a party, and a formal announcement is likely later this month.

"It is more than 100 per cent certain that Keshubhai will form a new party and we will contest the elections on all 182 seats. There is no doubt that Keshubhai will lead the party and the state will have a three-way contest," said Patel's supporter Gordhan Zadafia, a former minister in Modi government.

BJP is in power in Gujarat since 1995. Regional parties grew strong in other parts of the country in the last two decades, but the trend was not witnessed here.

Attempts to provide a regional choice failed. Former Chief Minister and Congress leader Chimanbhai Patel formed Janta Morcha in 1980s, but realised soon that it was a non-starter and went back to Congress.

Another former CM, Shankarsinh Vaghela of BJP, floated Rashtriya Janta Party in 1986. He managed to get only four seats out of the total 184, and later joined Congress.

In the decade before, Sanstha Congress of Morarji Desai had some success, as it came to power after the Emergency in alliance with four other parties, trouncing Congress (I). PTI