Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Prahlad Joshi have been appointed as central observers for the election of the new Chief Minister of Gujarat. Both the leaders are soon landing in Ahmedabad. A post-lunch meeting with all the 112 BJP legislators of Gujarat has been scheduled with these leaders but Vibes of India can vouch that this meeting is just going to be a formality. Sources tell Vibes of India (VoI) that PM Modi may craftily chalk out a strategy where there could be one or two deputy chief ministers that could represent OBC and Tribal community cluster of Gujarat.
Gujarat has to be ready for yet another puppet Chief Minister. Who will it be?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an expert at throwing surprises–just like the way he picked up the little known outside Rajkit Vijay Rupani as Gujarat’s chief minister in 2016. Even this time, chances of a dark horse making it cannot be completely dismissed. But in case, a Patel is sworn in as the 17th Chief Minister of Gujarat, it clearly would mean that the Patidars have won. And that the BJP is eager to get back its core vote bank. The Patidars were the ones who made it possible for the BJP to form its first majority government in 1995 and if they could again do a ghar vapasi; nobody can stop the BJP being re-elected for the sixth consecutive time. In 2016, when Anandiben had to give up her chief ministership, PM Modi did not adhere to the Patidar demand of a Patel CM. It would be interesting to see if this time he concedes, keeping electoral calculations his priority instead of his personal ego or would he once again surprise with a dark horse candidate.
Vibes of India speculates prospective BJP leaders who could become the next chief minister and deputy chief ministers of Gujarat. Sorry, a puppet chief minister, unless it is an Amit Shah.
R.C. Faldu, 64
Ranchhodbhai Chanabhai Faldu is a Member of the Legislative assembly from the Kalavad constituency in Gujarat for its 12th legislative assembly and Jamnagar South in the 14th assembly. He is a cabinet minister of the Agricultural, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Transport field of Gujarat in 2017. He is from the Leuva Patel community. He was formerly a BJP President in Gujarat and is believed to be close to Narendra Modi.
Nitin Patel, 65
Deputy Chief minister Nitin Patel had distributed sweets and was in full celebration mode in 2016 after he was conveyed, reportedly by outgoing Chief Minister Anandiben Patel that he would take over. Nitin Patel,65 has been a Chief Minister in waiting since then.
Positives
- He is a strong Patel leader and an experienced politician.He first represented Kadi constituency in the Assembly in 1990 and has won majority of the elections he has contested.
- He has been the Chief Minister in waiting since 2016. Though some say, he was being thought about in 2014 also when CM Modi became PM Modi.
- He is a Patel.
- He is non controversial and people friendly.
- He has a vast administrative experience.
- He deserves it.
Negatives
- A Patel chief minister may upset the OBCs who are a majority in Gujarat.
- It would also mean that PM Modi has finally caved in to the Patidar demands because recently senior Patidar leader Naresh Patel had said that the next Gujarat Chief Minister will be a Patel.
- Nitin Patel is not a fresh face.
- Nitin Patel is a Kadva Patel. Majority of Patidars who have a heavier clout are Leuva Patels.
- Nitin Patel’s son does not enjoy a clean reputation which could be used against him.
- Nitin Patel is from North Gujarat.
Praful Patel, 64
- Positives
- Praful Patel is one of the very few people in Gujarat who enjoys the confidence of both PM Modi and HM Shah.
- He has been Home Minister of Gujarat (Minister of State, Independent charge) from 2010 to 2012 when CM Modi and Amit Shah were going through their darkest hours. They were accused in various cases including several fake encounters and the woman architect snooping case. Praful Patel played a vital role in “co-ordinating” things for the troubled duo then.
- Praful Patel is known to be a smart operator. He does not let bureaucrats bully him, forget guiding him.
- He has a solid RSS background and would go to any length to propagate muscular Hindutva that BJP voters in Gujarat actually look forward to.
- He is the right person if Hindutva is going to be the main agenda of the BJP in the forthcoming Gujarat Assembly elections replacing Vikas (Development).
- He is a Patel.
Negatives
- Praful Patel is more known for his alleged anti social activities than his politics.
- He is too hardcore and public perception of his could dissuade investors from others parts of the world to come to Gujarat.
- He is considered to be a bully and reportedly is very controlling and arrogant.
- He is believed to have caused a rift between OBC and blue blooded Rajputs in the past that had cost the BJP.
- He has been named as the main accused in the suicide abatement case of Dadra Nagar Haveli MP Mohan Delkar by the deceased’s family. Delkar had openly complained against Praful Patel in the Parliament. Inaction on part of BJP forced him to die by suicide, he wrote in his suicide note on February 25, 2021.
- Praful Patel has become a national controversy after he banned beef in the Muslim dominated union territory of Lakshadweep of which he was appointed an administrator in December 2020. He already is the administrator of Diu, Daman, Dadra and Nagar Haveli since January 2020.
- He has several business interests and is infamous for even being involved in extortion rackets.
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Mansukh Mandaviya, 49
- His age is in his favour.
- Mandaviya has a very, absolutely clean and non controversial background.
- Mandaviya is devoted and comes from RSS. His appointment would elate the RSS.
- Mandaviya is a very low maintenance pro public person. All his yatras have been super hit and it is believed that CM Modi got the raw idea of promoting kanya kelavani (girl education)from him.
- Mandaviya was one of the youngest BJP MLAs when he got elected to the Gujarat Assembly in 2002 for the first time. During his term as a MLA, he was known to use public transport and live a frugal life.
- Mandaviya is well read. He is a staunch follower of Hindutva and RSS that aligns with the BJP philosophy.
- He is a Leuva Patel
- He hails from Saurashtra
- Negatives
- Mandaviya has become the Union Health Minister recently in July. Would it be prudent to disturb him?
