A senior BJP leader pointed
At this point, both the incoming chief minister and his deputy have their tasks cut out. Only on Thursday, bowing out of the race, Mr Rupani had told the media: 鈥淚 have been entrusted with the party organisation. Later on Friday, it became a rude awakening for him as he was relegated to deputy chief ministership.Hardik Patel, who is leading the Patidar community鈥檚 agitation, said that 鈥渂y making Rupani chief minister, the BJP has insulted the Patels鈥? Mr Rupani, who was state transport minister, belongs to the Jain-Baniya community (non-dominant caste), that comprises only four per cent of the state鈥檚 population. The meeting saw the participation of BJP president Amit Shah and senior leader and Union minister Nitin Gadkari.The task ahead for the new team will be tough as it will have to get everything in shape by October next year, when the state is due to go for Assembly elections. They are expected to provide good governance and try to contain the rage of the Patel and dalit communities, battle two decades of anti-incumbency and mend ties between the government and the party.What apaprently tipped the scales in favour of Mr Rupani was Nitin Patel鈥檚 jumping the gun, speaking to the media and giving interviews to TV channels as well as accepting congratulations even before party legislators and Mr Shah had taken a decision. I am very satisfied with the organisational work.鈥?/p>Mr Rupani, who will replace Anandiben Patel, is known as a Amit Shah loyalist.
What can be more important work than that The party has given me organisational work, I am fortunate and that is my priority.A senior BJP leader pointed out: 鈥淕ujarat mein Modiji ke ishare ke bina patta bhi nahin hilta (In Gujarat, even a leaf does not move without Modi鈥檚 permission). It was claimed that Mr Rupani has a considerable hold among the Patels. Besides, by jumping the gun, Nitin Patel lost out in the race as the BJP suddenly began to view him as a 鈥渓oose cannon鈥?and 鈥渘ot strong enough鈥? Though pushed to the number two slot, the BJP high command does not want to completely upset Nitin Patel either.30 pm, however, the situation changed completely, and Mr Rupani, who on Thursday had said that he was withdrawing from the race, was named chief minister and Mr Patel Air spray gun deputy chief minister.鈥?Though Mr Rupani is from a non-dominant caste, his loyalists pointed out that he belongs to Saurashtra, which has a significant population of both Patels and dalits.Mr Rupani was picked for the state鈥檚 top job by party MLAs at a meeting in Ahmedabad on Friday. Till Friday afternoon, Nitin Patel, confident of succeeding outgoing CM Anandiben Patel, had started speaking to the media, giving interviews to TV channels and talking of the 鈥渞oad map ahead鈥?By 5.. However, his name was cleared only after there was a green signal from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.BJP springs a surprise at Ahmedabad meet New elected Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy CM Nitin Patel flash victory signs.
