Narendra Modi to resign as Gujarat chief minister on May 21
But there is still uncertainty on who will be his successor. Though revenue minister Anandiben Patel is the frontrunner. Modi can spring a surprise.
Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi is expected to resign as the Gujarat chief minister on May 21 after a special state Assembly session.
But there is still uncertainty on who will be his successor. Though revenue minister Anandiben Patel is the frontrunner. Modi can spring a surprise.
With the Congress suffering a complete wipeout in the state in this year's elections, Modi is now reportedly flirting with the idea of depriving the party of its last vestiges of support in Gujarat, the tribals, by appointing a tribal leader as his successor.
And he has found a viable nominee in his state Forest and Environment Minister Ganpat Vasava (42).
At a state Cabinet meeting held just a day before the Lok Sabha election results, Modi asked Vasava, who is sixth in hierarchy in his cabinet of seven, to sit next to him.
The sitting arrangement generally does not send a message but insiders say this is Modi's style of conveying to his colleagues his choice and method.
A senior leader described Vasava's reported impending anointment as a result of Modi's "long- term planning".
-With inputs from Darshan Desai