In a first ever meeting of Gujarat BJP MlAs after the longest ever lok Sabha polls, the saffron party’s legislatures gave a standing ovation to their leader, Narendra Modi for his mammoth efforts to lead the party’s most successful poll campaign.
Apart from 117 BJP MlAs, senior Gujarat BJP functionaries including Gujarat BJP president RC Faldu, State party in-charge Om Mathur, in-charge of State BJP election campaign committee Parshotam Rupala and others also remained present in the meeting.
lots of excitement was created among BJP MlAs, party cadre and media fraternity ahead of the meeting on the declaration of Modi’s successor. Though State Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel is believed to become the first ever woman Chief Minister of Gujarat, names of other senior BJP leaders are also being discussed.
Apart from Modi’s close aide Amit Shah, senior Ministers like Nitin Patel and Saurabh Patel are also believed to be in the race. The issue became important after a senior leader of the party Bhikhubhai Dalsania threw his hat in the ring for chief ministership. Bhikhubhai, who was functioning as the link between the executive and the organisational wings of the State BJP and had played very important roles in the selection of the candidates for the general elections, was believed to have been backed by the RSS to succeed Modi in the State.
When the meeting started, against all expectations, the Gujarat Chief Minister talked about upcoming annual events of the State Government – Krishi Mahotsav (Agriculture Fair) and Kanya Kelavani Zumbesh (Girl-child Education Drive). Modi also insisted his colleagues to participate for the noble cause.
While talking to mediapersons, Gujarat BJP general secretary and spokesman Vijay Rupani said that no discussion on the successor of Narendra Modi took place during the meeting. “Decision on the new Chief Minister will be taken only after the poll result by the party’s central parliamentary board. Focus of the meeting was on Krishi Mela and Kanya Kelavani drive,” Rupani added.
He said that personally he thought Modi would take rest after the months long election campaign on national scale, but the Gujarat CM straight away started work and toll the stalk of the State’s water situation.
On Modi’s successor, Gujarat BJP in-charge Mathur said that there is a system in the party and decision would be taken at an appropriate time. “Such decisions are not taken haphazardly. This party doesn’t belong to one family or person,” he added.