Since its beginning in 1960, Gujarat has been ruled by as many as four Patidar Chief Ministers, including the first woman CM Anandiben Patel, but none of them were able to complete their terms for some of other reasons irrespective of party alignment.
Collectively, the four Patidar CMs — Chimanbhai Patel, Babubhai Patel, Keshubhai Patel and Anandiben Patel got seven opportunities to head the State Government at different point of time. Except Anandiben, the other three got one more chance to become CM, but even in their second stints, they couldn’t complete their tenure.
Ahead of the 2017 Assembly polls, Anandiben had to step down in wake of on-going pro-quota Patidar agitation as well as Dalit protest across the State after the flogging of Dalit youths in Una for skinning dead cow. Patel who became Gujarat CM in May 2014 however tendered resignation citing her age earlier this month.
First Patidar Chief Minister of Gujarat, Chimanbhai Patel assumed office in July 1973. Despite having thumping majority in the Assembly, 140 MlAs (Congress) out of 182, Patel had to resign within a year in February 1974. He became victim of students’ agitation ‘Navnirman Andolan’.
After Chimanbhai’s unceremonious exit, people in Gujarat including his political friends believed that he would never surface on political scene. However, he rose like phoenix from ashes and again became Gujarat CM in October 1990 after 16 long years. He in fact emerged as face of VP Singh’s Janata Dal in the State and led Janata Dal — BJP coalition Government. Born in June 1929, the architect of ‘Modern Industrial Gujarat’ was going great guns but died in his office due to massive heart attack in 1994.
Freedom fighter Babubhai Jashbhai Patel became successor of Chimanbhai in June 1975 and led coalition of anti-Congress parties — Janata Morcha. After a week then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed Emergency but he continued as CM till March 1976 as Assembly dissolved and President’s rule imposed. In the next polls Babubhai again became CM in 1977. His Government lost majority after few MlAs migrated to Opposition Congress party which forced him to dissolve Assembly in 1980. Again Gujarat witnessed Presidential rule till the next election.
Under the leadership of Keshubhai Patel BJP won 121 seats out of 182 in Gujarat Assembly and Patel became first BJP CM in the State in March 1995. BJP’s central leadership’s decision to install Keshubhai as CM left then senior BJP leader Shankersinh Vaghela ignored. In September 1995, Vaghela rebelled against the BJP leadership with the support of 47 MlAs. The rebel forced BJP leadership to workout compromise formula and Patel replaced by a neutral candidate Suresh Mehta.
Again in March 1998 BJP won the election and Keshubhai became Gujarat CM for the second time. During his tenure Gujarat faced massive earthquake on January 26, 2001 and more than 20,000 people lost their lives. Keshubhai Government was criticised for weak rehabilitation work post-earthquake and the BJP high command decided to replace him by Narendra Modi in October 2001 to consolidate party’s political position in the State. And rest is the history.
