Rupani, Patel likely to continue as Gujarat CM and deputy CM
GANDHINAGAR: Vijay Rupani and Nitin Patel are widely expected to continue as Gujarat’s chief minister and deputy chief minister after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) retained power in the recently concluded assembly elections.
Others in the state party unit however, are said to be eyeing the top post.
Among those wanting to take Rupani’s place are ministers from Gujarat in the Narendra Modi government, party sources said on Wednesday.
The party however, in all likelihood, will want Rupani and Patel to hold on to their posts until the 2019 general election.
The source said Rupani was an acceptable face in the party and the BJP did well in his home district during the assembly polls.
But there are grievances against Rupani and Patel, with the BJP seat tally not touching even 100 — compared to BJP president Amit Shah’s repeated claims that the party will win 150 seats.
The saffron party lost a sizable number of seats in Saurashtra region where, in some districts, it failed to capture even a single seat. Among those said to be wanting to be Gujarat CM is Union minister of state for agriculture Purshottam Rupala, who has a good standing in the Patidar community.
Others reportedly include union minister Mansukh Mandavia, another Patidar, and Rajya Sabha member Smriti Irani.
“We are carrying out the necessary procedure for the new government to be formed. The central team from the party comprising observers like Arun Jaitley are here,” said state BJP President Jitu Vaghani while speaking to a news agency.
But party sources admit that there will definitely be new faces in the new cabinet.
At least four cabinet ministers were not fielded in the assembly election while seven ministers were defeated.
“About a dozen new faces will join the ministry,” said a party insider.
The swearing-in ceremony is likely to be held on Christmas Day and the most likely venue will be the Sabarmati riverfront.
THE SAFFRON PARTY LOST A SIZABLE NUMBER OF SEATS IN SAURASHTRA REGION WHERE, IN SOME DISTRICTS, IT FAILED TO CAPTURE A SINGLE SEAT