With Amit Shah out, Anandiben Patel leads an all Patel race for Narendra Modi’s successor in Gujarat

GANDHINAGAR: It’s a question that’s been keeping Gujarat up ever since the BJP made it official a few months ago that Narendrabhai Damodardas Modi will be their prime ministerial candidate in Polls 2014. A definite – as definite as it could be in the slippery world of realpolitik – answer to that query came two weeks ago in Bardoli where Rahul Gandhi was supposed to speak at a public function.
The hoardings that went up in the name of BJP that was organising a parallel rally had cut-outs of a face other than Modi: that of his confidante and state Revenue minister Anandiben Mafatbhai Patel.

The proof, as they say, is in the poll poster. Anandiben Patel is the only state leader who can command an hoarding all for herself apart from the Big Man. For all practical purposes, Patel is the de-facto second-in-command in state government if at all the present monolithic structure permits a second power centre.

It’s been around six months since Modi hit the campaign trail criss-crossing the country, but he is yet to appoint a deputy chief minister to run the affairs of the state. For the time being, the reins of the state are deposited with the all-powerful chief minister’s office (CMO).

A panel of ministers comprising of Anandi Patel, finance Minister Nitin Patel, the suave foreign-educated minister of industries Saurabh Patel and Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasma apparently run the government when the Chef Minister is away. But essentially while they meet and hold meetings, the final calls are essentially taken by the CM Narendra Modi.

And then there is all powerful Kuniyil Kailashnathan, who had retired as Additional Chief Secretary at the CMO on May 31 last year. A close confidant of Narendra Modi,Kailashnathan or KK as he is otherwise known was appointed on contractual basis for two years as “Gujarat Government’s Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister”, and he assumed his duty on June 1 last year. “As KK has a strong voice in the state bureaucracy, it is through him that the Chief Minister maintains his grip over the babus,” the source added.

The top claimant of succession, Anandiben is followed by Nitin Patel and Saurabh Patel. While Anandiben Patel has successfully pushed Modi’s another trusted lieutenant Amit Shah out of the state boundaries and ensured victory for herself in Round One, the two other Patels in the cabinet are also in the reckoning for the high chair in Gandhinagar. However, as of now, Anandiben commands allegiance of both the other Patels – Nitin and Saurabh – which bolsters her claim for the top job.

But that still for now is a thing of future. And with the absolute devotion that Modi commands, it is inconceivable for anyone in the state polity to nurse any ambition to upstage Modi at any point. They would be more than happy to carry on with duties in governance according to Modi’s wishes, says a source entrenched in the state polity adding that his trusted lieutenants would gladly carry on handling the day to day affairs of Gujarat until the big day as and when it comes.

Long-time Gujarat watchers also feel that given Modi’s penchant for throwing up surprises, Anandi Patel may also face competition from Purushottam Rupala, the former national vice president of BJP. Rupala, who was once close to Modi, had moved away from him subsequently.

Apart from Anandiben, who is a Leuva Patel married to a Kadva Patel and commands some acceptance from both the factions of powerful Patel Community, Rupala, a Kadva Patel has considerable support base in the all important Patel heartland of Saurashtra.

“There are speculations and there are speculations,” says a party functionary. “But at the end of the day it all lies with the CM, who will take a final call and the rest will fall in line,” he adds.