The transformation was noticed almost immediately after the new government took over and called a halt to the demolition operations then underway in Ahmedabad and Surat. This was followed by instructions to go soft on the oil-millers of Saurashtra.

The order on demolitions was greeted gleefully and with more than a little relief by the powerful builder lobby; it had been harbouring apprehensions of a repeat of the torrid time it faced in 1995 when the BJP went all out against illegal constructions. Similarly, though Civil Supplies Minister Jaspal Singh was in aggressive 1995 mode re-imposing the ban on inter-state export of edible oils, the fact remains that oil goes out and its prices are at their zenith.

Then followed the unsavoury media war between the party's vocal MLA from Vadodara Yogesh Patel and Jaspal Singh. Patel had, in an unprecedented move, openly accused Singh of shielding corrupt cash-rich petrol-pump owners and targetting the commoners in his `drive' against fuel adulteration.

Instead of looking into the allegations or taking a stance on either side, the rulers remained mute witness. In fact, there are reports that the Chief Minister's Office had asked Singh to go slow on the petrol-pumps lobby in the entire State.

When in Opposition, the BJP had accused the Vaghela Government of amassing wealth from the controversial agreements with small power projects; today, however, it shows little enthusiasm in unearthing those ``illegal deals.'' Though it has appointed a panel to review the previous government's decision, the spirit seems to be lacking.

And, despite much talk of getting tough with criminals, Vadodara Congress councillor Shailesh Mehta alias Sotta's detention under the Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act was cancelled 13 days after he was rounded up.These are but a few examples from the two months of a well-elected but hesitant government which aspires to get this `new concept' of governance emulated by its minority counterpart at the Centre.

This is in sharp contrast to the buzz it generated in 1995 with the same kind of majority.

The reason seems pretty clear: the Chief Minister does not wish to annoy any section of Gujarat which might end up playing, as in 1995, a role in financing any sort of political coup against him. Also, the BJP is likely to try and win over those influential lobbies it might have rubbed up the wrong way in 1995. This means a strategy to squeeze the resources of Shankersinh Vaghela who is waiting for an opportunity to unsaddle the ailing Patel again.