He has threatened to go on fast from the first day of Navratri if disco dandiya was not banned. Mashru is known for simplicity and unblemished political career and commands respect. However, with the threat, his popularity is now at stake as discontent is simmering among the youths.

``We have been opposing such cheap shows since their inception five years ago. But the administration and the organisers never took us seriously. So we have requested all concerned not to hold such garbas which are against the Hindu culture and tradition. The disco dandiyas are a nuisance and give birth to vices,'' Mashru tells The Indian Express.

He objects to boys and girls playing disco dandiya together. ``There should be separategarbas for them. I don't blame organisers. It is the atmosphere that brainwashes the mind of the young boys and girls.''

He claims he has the support of Sadhu Samaj president Gopalanandji and Kothari Swami Narayancharan Dasji of the Swaminarayn temple besides heads of several religious places on the Mount Girnar. Several students and women organisations and trade associations as well as the local Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Durga Vahini have also supported the ``voluntary ban'' on disco garbas, he adds.

Will he be able to swim against the tide? Is it fair to impose one's ideology on the society? Mashru knows he and his ilk of `puritans' are in minority. ``But someone has to fight for the protection and preservation of our sanskars.''

He says five organisers of disco dandiya at AG School ground, Bhutnath Mahadev Trust compound, Lohana Mahajanwadi, Vanikdev Vadi and Pradip Talkies have cancelled their `shows'. At the Gymkhana ground, owned by the government, the ShaktiGroup organises disco dandiya. The District Collector, who is also the chairman of the gymkhana, has to decide.

Shakti Group president Jayesh Bhuva contests Mashru's rationale. Why only in Junagadh, he asks, arguing that Navratri is always celebrated by men and women jointly. Rhythm and style of garbas have changed, so is music. But the spirit of devotion is still intact, he says.

But he is ready to implement any suggestion Mashru makes. ``We will ask players to come barefoot if he insists. We will not use songs based on film rhythm.''

He disagrees disco dandiyas make a bad impression on the young mind. ``We have to follow terms and conditions of the licence. The gymkhana also has its conditions.''

Hinting that local politics and personal animosity have forced Mashru to oppose disco danidya, Bhuva asserts he would not seek BJP MP Bhavnaben Chikhaliya's intervention. ``We don't want to politicise the issue, but we regret the political vendetta behind the opposition.''

TheGroup has filed tender for the ground but the administration has not accepted deposit yet. The group received a shot in the arm on Thursday when over a hundred workers belonging to different communities and organisations submitted a memorandum to the authorities, pleading for dandiya raas which ``does not violate any law.''

The Bhuva Group is trying to rope in the State VHP leadership. He hopes the VHP will clarify its stand soon. Though he keeps to himself the contingency plan in case the Gymkhana ground is not allotted to him, Bhuva claims his group can hold garba anywhere. ``The law and order situation may worsen if disco dandiya is banned. Where will youth go then? They would loiter around creating a nuisance.''

District Collector Pankaj Kumar Joshi admits he has received over two dozens memoranda against disco dandiya. ``I will call a meeting of all concerned and discuss the matter.'' On the Gymkhana ground, he says if no agreement is reached, it would not be let out. ``Wedon't mind if we lose Rs 1.5 lakh in rent.''

Observers, however, hold internal bickering in the BJP responsible for the controversy. During the last Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, party candidates had let loose a propaganda war against one another and formed panels with Opposition candidates. For example, the Chikhaliya group had solicited support after coining the word `Bha-Bhi' (`Bha' for Bhavnaben and `Bhi' for Bhikhabhia Gajera, Janata Dal's Assembly candidate). Similarly, Mashru supporters popularised the slogan `Ma-Jo (`Ma' for Mashru and `Jo' for Jorabhai, Congress candidate for the Lok Sabha.) These diametrically opposite political matrices formed by the Chikhaliya and the Mashru groups still exist and the present imbroglio is the fall-out, the observers feel.