Senior BJP leaders, including Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Pralhad Joshi, reached Gujarat on Sunday to attend a legislative party meeting to choose the successor of chief minister Vijay Rupani, who stepped down from the top post in the state ahead of the assembly elections in 2023. “BJP Gujarat legislative party meet to be held at 3pm. Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Pralhad Joshi and BJP general secretary Tarun Chugh will conduct the meeting to elect our new chief minister,” Yamal Vyas, spokesperson of the state BJP said .
Mr Vijay Rupani resigned as Chief Minister of Gujarat on Saturday in an unexpected turn of events ahead of an Assembly election in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state later next year.
“..IT. has been a five-year journey for development of Gujarat… under guidance of PM Modi. Now, to further develop the state, with new energy and power, ” Mr Rupani was quoted by news agency .
“It is well known the BJP, as a party, keeps changing as per requirements… it is a speciality of our party that every worker delivers to the fullest, and I too will continue to work for the party with the same energy,” he added.
Mr Rupani’s resignation (and, by default, his cabinet’s) leaves the ruling BJP with three options – appoint a successor, allow the state to come under President’s Rule, or have an early election.
Sources have said at this point no decision has been taken on early polls and a change of guard – a new Chief Minister – is likely to be the strategy.
Senior leaders BL Santosh and Bhupendra Yadav are in Ahmedabad to discuss replacements.
Sources have said Mansukh Mandaviya, sworn in as the Union Health Minister in July, and Nitin Patel, who was Mr Rupani’s deputy, are possible replacements. Both Mr Mandaviya and Mr Patel have reached the party office in capital Gandhinagar, ANI reported.
Another possibility, other sources said, is Praful Khoda Patel, who is currently the Administrator for the union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Lakshadweep.
