Two days after sulking Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel was placated by allotting him Finance portfolio, Minister of State in newly formed Vijay Rupani Government Parshottam Solanki – a Koli community leader in Saurashtra region shown displeasure on Tuesday over ‘insignificant’ Fisheries portfolio allocated to him.
The five times MlA from Bhavnagar district has also expressed annoyance for keeping him junior Minister and demanded Cabinet rank. Talking to media personnel at the sprawling Gujarat State Secretariat Solanki demanded a Department through which he could work for the people.
“Unlike previous governments, I have been marginalised with a single Department. In the last Government I had charge of Animal Husbandry also. With Fisheries department, I would be able to give my services to people who stay in coastal areas and not those who are living in other parts,” said the 57-year-old strong Koli leader.
According to him he had met Chief Minister Vijay Rupani before he came in front of media but he couldn’t express his feelings before Rupani as he was surrounded other people also. He went on to say that with only one Department, he wouldn’t be able to even pass time at his office in the State Secretariat.
“I don’t mind even with a single Department, but people of Koli community are not happy and they want party leadership to do something,” he added. It is worth mentioning that as many as 45 seats out of 182 are Koli influenced in the State. The population of Koli community in the State is more than 15 per cent although there are many sub-castes within the community.
Immediately after Solanki’s controversial remarks before the media, BJP leadership came into damage control mode and deputed senior Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama for the purpose. It was Chudasama who played crucial role to troubleshoot to resolve Nitin Patel episode.
Within an hour Chudasama told media that contribution of Solanki to make the saffron party acceptable in Koli community couldn’t be ignored. He said that the MoS Fisheries had put forth his sentiment before the CM and the party would do something in next 3-4 days. Solanki who was present at that time reiterated that his community members want him to take more number of portfolios.
The way Patel created in the name of Patidar community and succeeded to get Finance portfolio, Solanki too resorted to same technique using his Koli community which is in large number in Gujarat. Patel’s issue was resolved only after BJP president Amit Shah put his foot down.