AHMEDABAD: Vijay Rupani will take over as the new chief minister of Gujarat. Nitin Patel will be the deputy chief minister of Gujarat.
Rupani was picked for the state’s top job by party MLAs at a meeting on Friday. The meeting saw the participation of BJP president Amit Shah and senior leader Nitin Gadkari as observers.
Vijay Rupani is the state president of the BJP and was the minister for transport, water supply, labor and employment in Anandiben’s cabinet. He was elected an MLA for the first time in 2014, winning the Rajkot West seat vacated by Vajubhai Vala, who went on to become Karnataka Goveror. Rupani was considered the most non-controversial prospect as her successor, and enjoys wide acceptance among party cadre.
The new CM pick comes after days of speculation over whether Amit Shah would take charge as the Chief Minister. The air however was cleared on Wednesday when senior leader Venkaiah Naidu categorically stated that Amit Shah would continue in his national role.
Anandiben Patel tendered her resignation to Governor OP Kohli on Wednesday evening, hours after it was accepted by the BJP’s parliamentary board. Patel had been at the receiving end of a string of high-pressure crises in Gujarat.
She had received intense criticism for her handling of the protests demanding reservation for the powerful Patidar community. She has also been targeted over the protests by Dalit organisations in the aftermath of the beatings in Una.
