This refers to the editorial, “A new team in Gujarat” (August 8). Now that Vijay Rupani has been elected as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, he should use his proximity to party president Amit Shah and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to his advantage. The results of the gamble of the party high command, in plumping for a non-dominant leader, at a time when the Patidars and the Dalits are up in arms against the Government on reservation issue, will wait for another day. However, Rupani has to mean business straightaway because he has inherited a difficult legacy.
Gujarat's development has nosedived, and the reservation issue was allowed to blow out of proportion. Patidars and the Dalits constitute a major chunk of the vote-bank in the State — a considerable cause of worry for the BJP. Rupani needs to coordinate with Nitin Patel, his senior in politics but his deputy in the Government, to assuage the ruffled sentiments of the Patels. A transparent and accountable Government devoid of controversies is what is expected.