Months ahead of the Gujarat polls, the BJP has chosen to rope in a new Chief Minister
In a surprise move, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has resigned, saying that his resignation is in line with the BJP’s policy of giving equal opportunity to all workers. The installation of Bhupendra Patel as the new CM unfolds a new chapter in the politics of Gujarat, which is to go to polls in about 15 months. The resignation, though unexpected, was perhaps on the cards as rumours of Rupani’s impending resignation were floating even in June when Hardik Patel had hinted that the CM may be shown the door. That time, however, the rumours proved to be just that and there was no change of guard in the State. However, three months on, the party has replaced Rupani with Patel as the new Chief Minister ahead of the Assembly elections. There is substance to Hardik’s jab that if the party was happy with Rupani’s work, why did it feel the need to replace him? He further alleged that the BJP does not have faith in its Chief Ministers. Now, that is largely true if we look at the pan-India picture. Rupani is the fourth BJP Chief Minister to step down in recent months. BS Yediyurappa resigned as the Karnataka CM in July and, in Uttarakhand, Tirath Singh Rawat quit four months after replacing Trivendra Rawat.
Rupani had succeeded Anandiben Patel on August 7, 2016, when she was asked to step down. He continued as the Chief Minister after the BJP’s win in the 2017 State elections. Though he has categorically denied that he had any differences with State BJP president CR Paatil, there is bound to be some reason behind the resignation. His performance as the Chief Minister was not topnotch while handling the COVID crisis. Rupani comes from the Jain community, which is insignificant from an election perspective. Moreover, people’s unease over the COVID mismanagement, industrial slowdown leading to unemployment and price rise, and the Opposition parties getting space could also be reasons for the soft-spoken Rupani’s departure, who was often dominated by the bureaucracy. Speculation was rife that his successor would be a Patidar, which has rung true. Besides, Patel — a first-time MLA from Ghatlodiya who holds a diploma in civil engineering — is considered close to Anandiben. All eyes would now be on the new Chief Minister, who would be the BJP’s face and steer the party in the elections.