Anandiben set to retire, adds to Amit Shah’s woes
Former chief minister and prominent Gujarat BJP leader Anandiben Patel on Monday sent shockwaves through the Gujarat BJP’s electoral spine with her announcement that she would not be contesting the forthcoming Assembly elections slated to be held this December.
In a letter to party president Amit Shah, dated October 4, 2017, which predates Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s latest two-day visit to Gujarat beginning October 7, Patel pointed out that she had quit the chief ministership of the state, citing the 75-year age limit set for taking a backseat from active political life by the top brass.
“In the same spirit, I would like to state that I do not propose to contest the ensuing Gujarat Vidhan Sabha elections,” the letter states. The letter expresses her gratitude to the party for the opportunities it has provided to her over her long political career taking her from an ordinary worker to mahila morcha head and to becoming the first woman chief minister of the state.
“I have won numerous elections, held key positions and have been a part of Narendra Modi’s cabinet in Gujarat from 2002 to 2014 holding important positions and learning a lot from him,” it states.
Patel states that in the same spirit as the age limit set for leaders, she would want that her seat be given to an aspiring youth so that it helps in the process of grooming new leadership.
Anandiben Patel’s decision
has set alarm bells ringing within the party set-up in Gujarat. It is common knowledge that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two key aides, Anandiben Patel and Amit Shah have been at loggerheads in the politics of the state.
With the party facing an uphill climb, Shah sought to make amends by calling on Anandiben recently.
However, with Shah under opposition attack over the business interests of his son, and Anandiben, who was seen to return as chief minister of the state in case of a BJP win, opting out, the problems of the ruling party in Gujarat show no signs of abating.