Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, who has seen two major protests in her tenure of just two years, on Monday said that she was resigning from the post and asked the Bharatiya Janata Party leadership to find a younger replacement.
Her request to the party high command came amid protests by Dalits in Gujarat, a few months after violent protests by Patidar community in the state.
In a letter posted on her Facebook and Twitter accounts, Patel said she was taking the decision because she is close to turning 75, a de-facto retirement age in the BJP.
"For the last some time there has been a tradition in the party that those who attain the age of 75, voluntarily retires from the post. I will attain the age of 75 in November," the state's first woman chief minister, who succeeded Narendra Modi on May 22, 2014, said in a Facebook post.
But, sources say that the reason behind her resignation is anything but her age. Sources told India TV that the decision to replace Anandiben Patel was taken in a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah on July 15.
Here are the five possible reasons for Anandiben Patel’s decision to quit:
1- Patidar protests: The protest by the Patidar community, a major vote bank of the BJP in Gujarat, erupted last year for their demands of reservation. The protest was initially peaceful and CM Anandiben undermined its strength. The protest soon turned violent that caused damage of properties worth thousands of rupees. She was criticised for the way of handling the protests.
2- Una incident and Dalit protests: The recent incident of thrashing of Dalit men in Una of Gir Somnath district by cow protection vigilante groups sparked another round of protests in Gujarat, this time by Dalit groups. A few members of the community also tried to commit suicide in protest. The protest is nowhere near end. The opposition has held it as an example of atrocities against Dalits in Gujarat, home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
3- Internal report of the BJP against Anandiben Patel: An internal report prepared by the BJP to study current condition of the party and the government in Gujarat is not in her favour. The report said that Anandiben does not have much control over her officers and the schemes are not being implemented effectively, sources say. Disenchantment of OBC community is also mentioned in the report. The CM do not have very cordial relationship with her ministers either, the report said.
4- Corruption allegation against family: It has been alleged that family of Anandiben Patel takes advantage of her influence for personal gains. Reports of interference by family members also appear time to time. It was recently reported that environment rules were flouted to a lot land to a company connected to an associate of Anandiben’s daughter Anar Patel.
5-Decisions by Anandiben in last week: Five major decisions taken by Anandiben Patel government are also said to be the reason behind her resignation. For example, her decision to revoke toll taxes on private vehicles and to take back 90% of cases against Patidar community were reportedly taken without approval from high command.
