BJP retains Rupani as Gujarat CM No decision on Himachal
The BJP on Friday announced that incumbent Vijay Rupani, a close confidante of BJP president Amit Shah, will continue as the chief minister of Gujarat where the party came to power for a sixth successive term. Nitin Patel will retain the post of deputy chief minister.
Also, the BJP government’s support in the state Assembly rose to 100 after an independent MLA from Lunawada, Ratansinh Rathod, in a letter to governor O. P. Kohli, extended his support to the saffron party.
Mr Rathod, who has declared unconditional outside support to the BJP without joining the party, also attended the BJP MLAs’ meeting at its headquarters to elect their leader. The BJP had retained power by winning 99 seats in the 182member Assembly while the Congress bagged 77 seats. There were six MLAs from other parties and independents.
Meanwhile, in Himachal Pradesh where the BJP came to power, suspense still continues over who will be its chief minister. While senior leader Jairam Thakur is said to be leading the race, party stalwart and former CM P. K. Dhumal’s
◗ One of the two independent MLAs in Gujarat has backed the BJP, increasing its support in the 182- member Assembly to 100
◗ Former Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel is likely to be made a governor
◗ In Himachal, P. K. Dhumal remains in the race for CM despite losing his seat in the polls
name is also doing the rounds despite his losing the Assembly election.
The BJP had to face some embarrassment after supporters of Mr Dhumal and Mr Thakur created a ruckus outside the venue where party’s central observers and Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and