Vijay Rupani’s crowning as Gujarat CM proves only Amit Shah calls the shots
Till Friday afternoon, 61-year-old Nitin Patel was clearly the frontrunner for Gujarat's top job. But things changed dramatically in last few hours and in a surprise move, first time MLA Vijay Rupani was named as the successor of Anandiben Patel and the new chief minister of Gujarat.
Anandiben's choice and Patidar leader Nitin Patel was named as Rupani's deputy.
The appointment of Amit Shah's close confidante, Vijay Rupani, as the next CM, has once again proved that it's Shah who has the last laugh as far Gujarat's politics is concerned.
But the choice wasn't easy as outgoing CM Anandiben Patel had put up a huge resistance.
In a closed-door meeting, attended by Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Saroj Pandey, Dinesh Sharma, V Satish, Vijay Rupani and Nitin Patel, sources say that Anandiben was almost stubborn with her protégé's name.
While throwing her weight completely behind Nitin Patel, Anandiben not only praised him as a strong Patidar leader, but also raised questions about Rupani's administrative abilities as he is a first time MLA.
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| Outgoing Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel put up a stiff resistance to Amit Shah's candidate. |
But it wasn't only this meeting that changed the scenario.
Even before the meeting of legislators started at Kamalam, state BJP headquarters, Nitin Gadkari had a half-an-hour-long meeting with BJP national president Amit Shah at the Circuit House in Ahmedabad.
Immediately as Gadkari landed, Amit Shah drove down to the Circuit House to meet him. The meeting was also attended by Vijay Rupani.
It is believed that the decision on Rupani's name was already taken and it was only a matter of conveying it to Anandiben.
On expected lines, the former schoolteacher and outgoing CM put up a stiff resistance to Amit Shah's candidate.
Sources say that with the split wide open and with both unrelenting, it was left to PM Narendra Modi to take the final call.
A compromise formula was then worked out to accommodate both the contenders and the formula of a CM and a deputy was arrived at.
Finally, Anandiben was asked to propose Vijay Rupani's name and was unanimously seconded.
Amit Shah may have once again proved that he is the big boss, but the CM’s post for Rupani is going to be a crown of thorns not only for Rupani but Amit Shah himself.
Apart from containing the ever-growing Patidar stir, Rupani will also have to tackle the recent anger of Dalits, post the Una incident.
The Jain MLA from Rajkot city will also have to drive his party to the all-important 2017 Assembly polls.
He may have Amit Shah by his side, but with the party divided, it will certainly not be a cakewalk for Vijay Rupani.