Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani resigns -Joshi and Tomar appointed as observers,BJP likely to name new CM today

Milind Dharmasena

New Delhi :Vijay Rupani’s sudden exit as Gujarat’s Chief Minister on Saturday signals the churning that has begun in the BJP ahead of seven states going to polls in 2022. The reasons for changing the Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Gujarat now have a common thread, anti-incumbency, COVID mismanagement, farmers agitation, economic crisis and price rise.

Union Ministers Prahalad Joshi and Narendra Singh Tomar have been appointed as observers to choose the new CM.

The Gujarat BJP legislature party is likely to meet on Sunday to choose the new chief minister following Vijay Rupani’s resignation, state BJP spokesperson Yamal Vyas was quoted as saying by PTI
Names of Gujarat Deputy CM Nitin Patel, state agriculture minister R C Faldu and Union ministers Purshottam Rupala and Mansukh Mandaviya are doing the rounds amid speculation over who will succeed Rupani.

Rupani, a Jain from Rajot had succeeded Anandiben Patel, who had to resign in the wake of the Patidar community’s agitation demanding reservation. They are seeking an OBC status.

The BJP has been in power for two decades in Gujarat and Rupani was perceived as a weak Chief Minister. His appointment in 2017 was said to neutralise caste politics in Gujarat, where the Patidar community is the most influential vote bank. Of the seven poll bound states, the BJP is in power in six. Of the seven states, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh have significant OBC and non-OBC agricultural communities,the Jats in Western Uttar Pradesh and Patidars in Gujarat.

Meanwhile,Congress reacted to the development saying that the BJP has made Rupani a “scapegoat” to “hide its mismanagement during the pandemic” in Gujarat.

Speaking to New Delhi Chronicle, Pradesh Congress President Amit Chavda said “This government has failed in all fronts. The state government in Gujarat was remote-controlled from Delhi. Both Anandiben and Vijay Rupani were asked to resign without completing their term’’