Faced with a Dalit uprising and a simmering unrest among the powerful Patidar community, Gujarat’s first woman Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on Monday stepped down from her post, citing her age.
In a letter sent to BJP national president Amit Shah, the Gujarat Chief Minister, who is completing 75 years on November 21, stated that she wished to step down from the position a couple of months earlier as she wanted to give enough time to the new incumbent to prepare for the Vibrant Gujarat 2017 Summit.
In Delhi, Shah said her resignation offer would be placed before the party’s Parliamentary Board and hinted that her successor would be announced soon.
He lauded Anandiben for setting an example by abiding by the party’s policy of senior leaders voluntarily stepping down from responsibilities when they touch 75 years. Referring to the important ‘Vibrant Gujarat Summit’ scheduled for January, the BJP chief said the new CM would get enough time to gear up for the event. The event was initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2003 when he was the Chief Minister of the State.
“For the past 30 years, as a worker the party had given me various responsibilities. I am indebted to the party for giving me responsibility, right from Mahila Morcha in-charge to the Chief Minister of Gujarat,” said an emotional Anandiben in a letter posted on her Facebook page.
lauding her mentor and the Prime Minister, Anandiben said she was fortunate as she was constantly nurtured by the BJP while working under the visionary leadership of Narendra Modi. She said that when she was given the honour of becoming Gujarat’s first woman Chief Minister it also made the women of Gujarat feel proud.
“I took charge as Gujarat CM after Narendrabhai’s 12 charismatic years, which was nothing less than counting stars in the sky. Despite the fact, I was successful in keeping the momentum of Gujarat’s development going on his path,” she added, saying that she joined the saffron party after being inspired by its ideology and discipline.
In the last 18 years, she worked with different departments as a Minister in the State Government, said Anandiben claiming that during the period she could bring transparency and several creative changes for the easy implementation of people-oriented schemes through honest efforts.
Terming Anandiben as true party worker and sensitive Chief Minister, senior Gujarat Minister and State BJP president Vijay Rupani called her an asset for the party and said she took the decision to step down as Gujarat CM in the interest of the party.
Meanwhile, speculation over Anandiben’s successor has already started and few names are making the rounds in the political circles of Gujarat. According to sources, apart from Rupani who is the frontrunner for the post, names like Bhikhu Dalasania, an RSS man and State BJP organising secretary, former BJP president RC Faldu, Union Minister of State Parashotam Rupala, and senior Gujarat Minister Nitin Patel are being discussed.