Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani resigns
AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Saturday resigned from the post, his sudden announcement coming over a year before the state goes to polls. It is not clear what prompted the development in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state where elections to the 182-member Assembly are due in December 2022. Rupani (65), the fourth CM to demit office in BJP-ruled states during the pandemic, was sworn in on 2017. Party sources said the issue of Rupani’s successor will be discussed in the legislature party meeting likely to be held on Sunday.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Saturday resigned from the post, over a year before the state goes to polls.
It is not clear what prompted the development in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state where elections to the 182-member Assembly are due in December next year.
Rupani (65) was sworn in as chief minister – his second stint as CM - in December 2017.
“I have resigned as chief minister of Gujarat,” Rupani told reporters after meeting Governor Acharya Devvrat and submitting his resignation letter.
“I was allowed to serve the state for five years. I have contributed to the development of the state. I will further do whatever is asked by my party,” Rupani said.
“I will be ready to take whatever responsibility that the party will give me in the future,” Rupani said.
“I thank Prime Minister
Narendra Modi for giving a common worker like me this opportunity to serve the people of the state as chief minister,” Rupani said.
Rupani along with state BJP in-charge Bhupendra Yadav, Union ministers Purshottam Rupala and Mansukh Mandaviya, and state cabinet colleagues deputy CM Nitin Patel, Bhupndrasinh Chudasama and Pradeepsinh Jadeja met the governor and submitted their resignations.
Rupani added, “In BJP, it is like a relay race for party workers. One gives the baton to the other.”