WHY SHAH DIDN’T BECOME GUJ CM
Narendra Modi and Amit Shah have shared a good relationship since their days in the Gujarat government. The equation stood both in good stead as they moved to Delhi two years ago, Modi as the PM and Shah as the party chief. And now as the government is buffeted by crises – from the Kashmir unrest to attacks on Dalits – Modi probably needs Shah more than ever.
NEW DELHI: When Prime Minister Narendra Modi walked into a BJP meeting to discuss names for Gujarat chief minister early this month, he had just one message for the party :“Am it( Shah)ko ch hodk ar baki naam par vichar kar lena (discuss any name but Amit Shah’s).”
Modi’s remarks put an end to the talk about BJP national chief Shah returning to the state ahead of the 2017 state elections.
According to sources, Modi had received feedback that only Shah could restore the party’s image which has been dented lately because of alleged attacks on Dalits and Patidar agitation.
The BJP chief, however, was open to the idea of going back to his home state, and was interested in the top job, the sources added. As the BJP chief, Shah was responsible for the party across the country, not just one state, they quipped.
“The chapter was closed when the message came directly from the PM,” said a leader who attended the meeting on August 3.
The equation stood in good stead as they both moved to New Delhi two years ago: Modi as the PM and Shah as the party’s national president. Now, as the government is buffeted by crises — from unrest in Kashmir to attacks on Dalits — Modi may need Shah more than ever to tide over.
Besides, there are five state elections due in early 2017, including Uttar Pradesh that played a key role for the BJP in the 2014 national elections.
Modi’s message received, the parliamentary board left it to Shah to pick the next Gujarat CM. On August 5, Vijay Rupani, close to both Modi and Shah, was named the CM.
Anandiben Patel had opposed Rupani’s elevation, saying he didn’t have the experience to lead a state government.
“Shah assured the PM that he will win Gujarat for him, provided he gets a free hand,” another BJP leader told HT.