The BJP Parliamentary Board today accepted Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel’s resignation. There was, however, no announcement regarding who will be the next CM of the state, where assembly elections will be held next year.
“Anandiben Patel's resignation has been accepted by BJP Parliamentary board. Anandiben Patel ji will go to Raj Bhavan today and submit her resignation to the Governor,” Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu told reporters here.
Meanwhile, the legislature party of the BJP in Gujarat is scheduled to meet tomorrow where a final decision on Anandiben's successor is likely to emerge.
The Parliamentary Board, Naidu said, has appointed Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Saroj Pandey as observers.
“They will go to Gujarat and hold meetings with the MLAs and then only any decision will be taken on next CM,” he said.
When asked about reports suggesting that BJP president Amit Shah may be the next CM of state, he said, “No question of Amit Shah ji. Party wants him to lead us in national politics.”
Reports suggest that the final decision regarding the new face would be taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had handpicked Patel to succeed him after becoming the Prime Minister in May 2014.
Among the names of probables doing the rounds are Vijay Rupani, Nitin Patel, Saurabh Patel (all Ministers in Patel’s Cabinet) and Speaker Ganpat Vasava.
Ending months of speculation, Gujarat’s first woman Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on Monday offered to quit in keeping with the BJP's "laudable tradition" of leaders vacating their posts as they turn 75.
