This is a developing story
(Photo: The last picture of Vijaybhai Rupani as Chief Minister of Gujarat)
Less than one hour after Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated Sardardham, a 200 crore Patidar project in Ahmedabad to facilitate over 1600 Patel youth to pursue their ambitions, PM Modi decided that time was ripe to replace Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani.
The Patidars, known as Patels in Gujarat are at war at BJP ever since Hardik Patel initiated an agitation demanding reservation for Patels. Chief Minister Anandiben Patel had to quit her Chief Ministership.
Now with elections in Gujarati in December 2022, today the Patidar’s response appeared to be lukewarm. Interestingly Vibes of India reported yesterday how hundreds of Patidars were not happy that PM Modi was going to inaugurate Sardardham as they felt that CM Vijay Rupani had also failed in addressing the issues.
A lot of water has flown down the Sabarmati after Hardik Patel launched the Patidar agitation. He is now with the Congress and not as dynamic as he was as the Patidar youth leader heading PAAS, the agitation movement.
Of late, several Patidars across Gujarat have started joining Aam Aadmi Party. Last October AAP managed to win 17 seats at Surat which is also the base of State BJP president C R Patil.
Sources close to BJP tell Vibes of India that Rupani’s exist was final but today’s Sardardham event became a pivotal moment. Sources claim that PM Modi found the Patidar response to his speech very lukewarm.
So though Rupani’s exit was expected, the exit was hastened. Modi had already sought opinion and assessment from Home Minister Amit Shah who was sent to Gujarat a day before.
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and his entire 23 member cabinet submitted their resignation to governor Devrat Acharya leaving it to party high command to execute a smooth decision.
National BJP Organising secretary B L Santhosh was flown down to Gujarat to hold meetings. After the meeting held at Kamalam, the Party headquarters, Vijay Rupani along with his entire cabinet went to Raj Bhavan and submitted their resignations.
Vijay Rupani spoke to Vibes of India on the phone and said he has resigned and is very grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah for giving him the chance to govern Gujarat for five years.
All the 112 BJP MLAs have been summoned to reach Gandhinagar for an urgent meeting by 10 am on Sunday.
AAP and Congress in Gujarat have claimed that the Modi-Shah duo has made “Vijay RUpani a sacrificial lamb” but “simply changing faces will not work”, Congress’ Leader of Opposition Paresh Geelani who is waiting for his resignation to be accepted told VoI.
The decision appears to be based on an internal assessment that Mr Vijay Rupani would not be able to lead the party to victory next December. He has been CM for five years. Clearly not measuring up to the expectations of the people. The question that arises is why individuals who lack both governance acumen and electoral merit are entrusted with such responsibilities. For most citizens, it is the state government that delivers a wider bouquet of services than the somewhat remote Centre.