A day after Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel announced her decision to quit, speculations are rife on who will succeed her ahead of the 2017 Assembly polls, overcoming the grim challenges on its way to maintain the over two decades of winning spree in the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Though the decision is to be taken at the “highest level” of the BJP leadership, the possible names doing the rounds as potential successor to Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben include the “number two” in the cabinet and health minister Nitin Patel, state BJP chief Vijay Rupani, Union minister Purshottam Rupala and Assembly speaker Ganpat Vasava, a tribal leader. Sections in the ranks also wish the party’s national president Amit Shah to take over the reins of the state.
Let’s look at each candidate one by one.
Nitin patel- is a Cabinet Minister for Health, Medical Education, Family Welfare, Road and Building, Capital Project in government of Gujarat in India. He was formerly a cabinet minister for water supply, Water Resources, (excluding Kalpsar Division), Urban Development and Urban Housing. He was elected to Gujarat Legislative Assembly from Mehsana in 2012. He is aB.com qualified.
Patel gained popularity in last two years as he worked as a second-in-command of Anandiben Patel. This definitely makes him one of the frontrunners.
Vijay Rupani– is a member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly representing Rajkot West and presently State cabinet minister of Gujarat government.
According to reports, his chances are high since he enjoys proximity with BJP’s chief whip Amit Shah. Rupani also has the endorsement of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, having been associated with the saffron organization since 1971. He even enjoyed unbridled support from Narendra Modi and served as BJP’s Gujarat unit general secretary and chairman of the Gujarat Finance Board during chief ministership of Narendra Modi.
He was inducted as minister in the first cabinet expansion by Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and currently is in charge of transport, water supply, labour and employment.
Many believe it to be a two horse race between rupani and patel.
Saurabh Patel Dalal- is currently a Member of Legislative Assembly in the 13th Gujarat Legislative Assembly or Gujarat Vidhan Sabha and has served in the same capacity in the 10th, 11th and 12th Legislative Assemblies as well. In the Gujarat Legislative Assembly Elections that concluded in 2012, he contested and was directly elected from the single-seat constituency of Akota, an urban area in the western side of Vadodara city.
He held the post of State Cabinet Minister in the Anandiben Patel led state government. Considered to be one of the most Educated Ministers serving in the Cabinet, he holds the portfolios for Energy & Petrochemicals, Mines & Minerals, Cottage Industry, Salt Industry, Printing, Stationary, Planning, Tourism, Civil Aviation, finance and Labour & Employment. He holds a MBA degree from the United States of America.
Saurabh Patel is the husband of the first cousin of Mukesh and Anil Ambani. He is the son-in-law of Ramnikbhai Ambani, the elder brother of late Dhirubhai Ambani. Interested in Energy Field Saurabh Patel has succeeded in making an Energy Negative Building in Gandhinagar. He is also brainchild behind Asia’s Biggest Solar Power Project as well as pilot project of rooftop Solar Panel on Narmada Canal. He is also an efficient administrator and the youngest among the four.
Parsottambhai Rupala– a member of Rajya Sabha representing the Indian state of Gujarat and a leader of Bharatiya Janata Party. He was a member of Gujarat Legislative Assembly from Amreli and a minister in Government of Gujarat. He was the state president of the party. As per reports he might well be the dark- horse.
Chudasama- He is in Council of Ministers of Gujarat in 13th Gujarat Legislative Assembly of Indian state of Gujarat. He is a cabinet minister of Education (Primary, Secondary and Adult), Higher and Technical Education, Food and Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Science and Technology in 13th Gujarat Legislative Assembly. He is a lawyer by profession.
He is the Rajput face of BJP and known for his commitment towards Dalits. He also has the blessings of the RSS. The flip side is he is a very low-profile leader who cannot be counted on to lead the party in the next assembly elections.
Ganpat Vasava– An adivasi from southern part of the state, Vasava’s appointment as the Chief Minister can help the BJP make inroads among the tribals, who constitute a massive 14 per cent of the total electorate. The tribals have emerged as a votebank for the Congress since their leader Amarsinh Chaudhary’s election as the CM in 1984.
Vasava (46) was first elected to the state Assembly in 2007. Modi, as a Gujarat CM, had inducted him into the Cabinet after the 2012 Assembly elections.
Authored by- Ashish Gulgulia