Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has completed his two-year tenure in office on December 12. Appointed unexpectedly in 2021 after the sudden resignation of then-Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Patel was re-elected in 2022 with the support of 156 MLAs.
The state government is now celebrating these two years under his leadership, highlighting achievements in governance and welfare schemes, while the opposition Congress party has launched strong criticisms of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Citing various scams and fraud, including the Khyati Hospital incident and the increase in drug seizures, the opposition is not praising the CM today.
A leader’s achievements in the eyes of govt
To mark the occasion, CM Patel launched three booklets under the title “Two Years of Service and Resolution,” underscoring the government’s focus on public welfare. These two years, according to the state government, have been marked by the successful implementation of key policies in water supply, water resources and food and civil supply sectors.
After assuming office for a second term in 2022, Patel introduced several important policies aimed at strengthening the state’s infrastructure.
These included the procurement policy, women’s empowerment policy, Gujarat Textile Policy, new IT Policy and Gujarat Energy Policy.
The state’s budget reached a record Rs 3.32 lakh crore. Gujarat also saw the creation of nine new municipal corporations and one new municipality, all part of a larger effort to streamline urban planning.
Under Patel’s leadership, Gujarat led the country in the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, installing solar panels on 2.82 lakh houses. Additionally, 76% of the state’s villages saw improvements in electricity supply for farmers during the day.
A substantial portion of the state’s farming community also benefitted from natural farming schemes, with 9.85 lakh farmers being covered.
The government also celebrated the success of the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Summit, held in Gandhinagar, where MoUs worth Rs 45 lakh crore were signed. The 17th G-20 summit was hosted in Gujarat, further solidifying the state’s position on the global stage. Additionally, UNESCO declared the state’s cultural heritage, including Garba, as an intangible cultural heritage, cementing Gujarat’s cultural identity.
Known as a business hub, Gujarat ranks at the top in the national ease of doing business index and is a leader in job creation and startup initiatives.
Opposition criticisms of the BJP govt
Despite the state government’s claims of progress, critics argue that Gujarat’s development narrative hides underlying challenges.
Speaking with Vibes of India, Gujarat Congress Manish Doshi accused the BJP government of mismanagement, pointing to the state’s rising debt, which has reached Rs 3.84 lakh crore.
He also highlighted that over 70 municipalities are struggling to pay electricity bills due to poor planning and a declining state-owned power sector. This, he claims, has led to inflated electricity costs for the residents.
Furthermore, Doshi condemned the state’s housing policies, noting that many government-built houses have fallen into disrepair within a decade. He also accused the government of corruption and misallocation of housing resources.
Farmers, he said, are among “the hardest hit by the government’s failures.”
Although the state has implemented several schemes to support them, Doshi claimed that farmers often receive insufficient compensation for losses caused by unseasonal rains and excessive rainfall. Recently, the Congress also demanded a heavy relief package for farmers of the Saurashtra region.
“The farmers have suffered a great amount of loss because of excessive rainfall and flood-like situation in July-August this year. The BJP government should think of them and do more work to help these people as they are the backbone of our economy and livelihoods,” said Gujarat Congress chief and Rajya Sabha MP Shaktisinh Gohil to Vibes of India.
Doshi also criticised the lack of adequate electricity supply, with many farmers only receiving power for six hours at night. “The state’s farming community is burdened with a debt of Rs 96,000 crore and agricultural land is steadily decreasing, making it harder for farmers to sustain their livelihoods,” Doshi claimed.
The PM-JAY scam and fake officers arrested
The state has also seen a major scam involving the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY), India’s flagship healthcare programme at Khyati Hospital. This has raised serious concerns about the state’s ability to effectively manage welfare programmes and ensure transparency in the distribution of government benefits.
Not just this, several fake officers were recently also arrested for embezzling crores of rupees. The fraud came to light after a detailed investigation by the state police, which uncovered a network of individuals fraudulently posing as official representatives to siphon off money from the scheme. With fake officials being arrested and investigations ongoing, the government faces increasing pressure to ensure accountability and prevent such scams in the future.
As CM Bhupendra Patel enters his third year in office, Gujarat stands at a crossroads. While the state government touts achievements in infrastructure, welfare and business, the opposition remains vocal about the state’s growing debt and the plight of its most vulnerable citizens.
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