Suspense over the new Gujarat Chief Minister did not end on Thursday despite series of meetings of senior BJP leaders at party president Amit Shah’s Ahmedabad residence the whole day after he flew down from Delhi in the morning.
Sources in the saffron party said that names of possible contenders were discussed, but the most senior Minister in Anandiben’s Cabinet, Nitin Patel emerged as the frontrunner. Another strong candidate for the post and Gujarat BJP president Vijay Rupani who allegedly pulled himself out of the race.
Apart from BJP’s national president Amit Shah, in-charge of party’s Gujarat affairs Dinesh Sharma, national secretary (organisation) V Satish, Rupani, State BJP organising secretary Bhikhu Dalsania and some senior Ministers remained present during the meetings at Shah’s sprawling Bungalow situated in posh Thaltej area off SG Road. Sources in the BJP said that even after continuous meetings with senior party leaders, Shah decided to meet Cabinet Ministers in person till late in the night.
At around 5 pm Vijay Rupani came out of the Bungalow and told the media person waiting outside that the name of the new incumbent would be announced after a meeting of BJP legislature on Friday at 4 pm at party’s Gujarat headquarters — Shree Kamalam. “Swearing-in ceremony of Anandiben’s successor will be held on Sunday August 7, 2016,” said Rupani, though he didn’t reveal about the venue of ceremony despite media persons repeated query.
On Friday two observers — Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and party general secretary Saroj Pandy are also arriving. Besides, BJP’s national vice president Parasotam Rupala will also remain present in the meeting at Shree Kamalam.
A senior BJP leader told the Pioneer that apart from Nitin Patel and Rupani, names of Gujarat Assembly speaker Ganapat Vasava as well as senior Minister Ramanlal Vora were also discussed in the meeting. Vasava is from tribal community and Vora is the only Dalit in Anandiben’s Cabinet.
Despite the fact senior BJP leader and Union Minister for Urban Development Venkaiah Naidu told the media that Amit Shah was not in race of Gujarat CM, large number of BJP MlAs in the State firmly believe that Shah is the most appropriate choice to ensure party’s victory in 2017 Assembly polls in the backdrop of pro-quota agitation of Patidars and controversial issue pertaining to flogging of Dalit youths in Una.