Team News Riveting
Ahmedabad, September 11
Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Saturday resigned from the post, over a year before the state goes to polls.
The former Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala and union minister Purushottam Rupala are reported to be among the frontrunner for the replacement of Rupani. According to BJP insiders, name of another union minister Mansukh Mandviya is also in circulation for the post of next Chief Minister of Gujarat.
It is not clear what prompted the development in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state, where elections to the 182-member Assembly are due in December next year. Rupani comes from the Jain community which has around two per cent population in the state. There is speculation that his successor may be from the Patidar community.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is reaching the Gujarat Capital tonight to take stock of the situation in the party. The final decision about who will be Rupani’s replacement will be taken by the Prime Minister.
Rupani (65) was sworn in as Chief Minister for the second time in a row in December 2017. He had first taken over as Chief Minister on August 7, 2016 from Anandiben Patel. He led the Gujarat BJP to victory in the 2017 Assembly elections.
Rupani, who completed five years in office on August 7 this year, was present at the inauguration on Saturday of Sardardham Bhavan where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present virtually.
