GujaratBJP
SHOW OF UNITY PM Modi interacts with former chief ministers Keshubhai and Vaghela at swearingin, a gesture taken to be an indication of improved ties among the rivals
Minutes before Vijay Rupani began his second stint as Gujarat CM on Tuesday, BJP’s state politics appeared to have come full circle when three of its stalwarts — PM Narendra Modi, and former CMs Shankersinh Vaghela and Keshubhai Patel – came on the same stage, putting behind decades of rivalry.
When he reached the stage erected for the grand ceremony at Gandhinagar’s secretariat ground, Modi made it a point to spend extra time interacting with Vaghela and Keshubhai. He held their hands and spoke with a broad smile on his face.
The Prime Minister’s gesture was taken by political observers as an attempt to signal that the differences that had crept in between the three leaders over 20 years have been erased. Their fierce rivalry was held accountable for the toppling of BJP’s first Gujarat government within years of its formation in 1995.
COMMUNITY POLITICS The tussle between the three pillars of party’s Gujarat unit was taken to be an extension of the community-driven politics that continues to govern Gujarat.
The rift between Keshubhai, a Patidar; Vaghela, a Kshatriya; and Modi, an OBC, was seen as a representation of the equations between the three communities that have remained vital to the poll narrative in the state.
“Modi earned the title of ‘Super CM’ when he was an organisational secretary in BJP’s first Gujarat government in 1995 with Keshubhai at the helm. Vaghela then rebelled and formed his own government, with the Congress’ support, in 1997. In a way, Modi was held responsible for sabotaging the BJP government,” political analyst Hari Desai said
He, however, added that Modi took a step towards changing that notion. “By holding their hands, the message Modi sent was that he has brought back the two veterans who equally share credit for building BJP’s base in Gujarat’’, Desai added.
HISTORY OF RIFT
Keshubhai, who was unceremonious ousted from the CM post in 2001 to make way for Modi, held the PM responsible for plotting his removal. He took over a decade to stage his rebellion and tried to take on Modi in the 2012 elections by forming the Gujarat Parivartan Party. His party, however, could win only two seats.
The 89-year-old leader eventually accepted Modi’s leadership when he became the PM in 2014 and resigned as an MLA, following which his party was dissolved.
Vaghela, analysts said, always considered Modi to be his rival within and outside the BJP. He proved his mettle by forming the government with the support of BJP rebels and the Congress in 1997. But when his Rashtriya Janta Party tasted defeat in 1998, he merged it with the Congress.
Before this year’s polls, Vaghela parted ways with the Congress along with six of his loyal MLAs. Eight other Vaghela supporters cross voted in the Rajya Sabha elections held in August, providing the BJP with an opportunity to prevent veteran Congress leader Ahmed Patel from retaining his seat.
“After the RS polls, Vaghela was seen as BJP’s B team. Though he worked against the Congress and made peace with Modi, one cannot say for sure that both the leaders have regained each other’s trust’’, Desai said.
PM HAS THE LAST LAUGH
Analysts were quick to point out that the while the ties between the three might have been ‘restored’, Modi has had the last laugh. “Both Vaghela and Patel have been politically nullified and Modi has emerged as BJP’s supreme leader,” Desai said.
Jayesh Radadiya,
The youngest minister in the Rupani government, he retained his cabinet berth after winning the Patidar-dominated Jetpur seat in Saurashtra . Son of Saurashtra strongman Vithal Radadiya, he had switched over to BJP from Congress in 2014
Saurabh Patel,59 Kishor Kanani,
The BJP could not hold a single rally in his constituency of Varachha Road following protests by Patidars over their quota demand. However, the first time state minister managed to retain the seat by over 54,000 votes Has made a comeback to the cabinet after being dropped from Vijay Rupani’s first government in 2016. One of the richest candidates in the recently concluded elections, he has held important portfolios in industry and finance departments in the past
RC Faldu, Ganpat Vasava,
The tribal leader has helped the saffron party maintain its clout over the community settled along the northern and southern belts. This will be his third stint in the cabinet. He has also twice served as a speaker in the Gujarat assembly A first time cabinet member, he was the state BJP chief for two terms when Narendra Modi was Gujarat chief minister. The soft-spoken Patidar won this year’s election from Jamnagar South despite facing opposition from a section of his community Urban 10 of the 20 ministers (50%) are graduate and above. 39% of the MLAs have similar level of educational qualification.
Ministers (share of ministers) Less than 5th standard
5th-12th
Graduate and higher
Unknown
The new Himachal Pradesh government led by BJP’s Jai Ram Thakur will take the oath of office at the historic ridge ground on Wednesday amid a galaxy of political leaders, including PM Narendra Modi, Union home minister Rajnath Singh and party chief Amit Shah.
The BJP state leadership has left no stone unturned to turn this ceremony into a mega event on the ecologically fragile ridge ground that has a British era water storage tank beneath it. Functions on the ridge have often been mired in controversy with environmentalists raising concerns over its fragile terrain. It is for the third time that a swearing-in ceremony is being organised at the ridge.
Prem Kumar Dhumal was the first chief minister to take oath here in 2008 along with his cabinet. Later, Virbhadra Singh was also sworn in the CM here along with his cabinet members. Prior to 2008, the oath-taking ceremony was held at the governor’s official residence, Barnes Court.
It is for the first time that the state capital will witness such a huge rush of VVIPs and dignitaries and the administration is making elaborate security arrangements.
Barricades have been erected at the Mall road and ridge, much to the inconvenience of locals and tourists alike. “The security checks and barricading are hampering the movement of pedestrians,” grumbled Ravinder Kumar, a visitor from Chandigarh. “Shimla town has only one open space and that too has been turned into a fortress,” complained Mohit Chauhan, a visitor. On normal days, the ridge is off limits for vehicles and only fire tenders and ambulances are excluded from this rule.
As many as 50,000 people are expected to reach the ridge tomorrow. “All arrangements for the swearing-in are in place,” deputy commissioner Rohan Chand Thakur told HT. CM-designate Thakur is himself overseeing the arrangements for the grand ceremony.
GANDHINAGAR: MLAs (share of MLAs) SHIMLA: