BJP springs surprise in Gujarat, names Vijay Rupani as chief minister

Health Minister Nitin Patel who was the front runner to succeed Anandiben Patel was made the deputy chief minister.

Ahemedabad

: In a huge surprise for political pundits, the BJP on Friday named state transport minister Vijay Rupani as Anandiben’s successor for the Chief Minister’s post.

Health Minister Nitin Patel who was the front runner to succeed Patel was made the deputy chief minister.

BJP president Amit Shah, who was in the state to oversee the procedure, had been holding intense deliberations with party leaders before he finalised the new chief minister's name.

Among others, he met state BJP in-charge Dinesh Sharma, national joint general secretary (organisation) V Satish, party treasurer Surendra Patel, education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama and former state BJP chief R C Faldu.

Other names that were doing the rounds for the post were that of Union minister Purshottam Rupala and Assembly Speaker Ganpat Vasava, a tribal leader.

Anandiben, who turns 75 this November, handed over her resignation to Governor O P Kohli on Wednesday.