The minister, who represents the Koli community that has a whopping 26 per cent population in the key Saurashtra region, called on Rupani and told him that it was a sentiment of his community to have a better say for him in the government.
The sulking minister, who remained absent from his office since the government took charge, came back to work earlier in the day after party president Amit Shah assured him that he will be given suitable portfolio.
Patel didn't disclose whether he would be getting Finance or Urban Development departments which he held in the previous government.
Lalji Patel, whose Sardar Patel Group was at the forefront of the Patidar quota agitation, along with the Hardik Patel-led Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti, met Nitin Patel in Gandhinagar.
Lalji Patel, who is convener of the Sardar Patel Group (SPG) which had launched the Patidar quota agitation along with Hardik Patel, today called on the Deputy CM at his official residence in Gandhinagar.
Hardik Patel claimed he was willing to recommend to the Congress leadership to "accommodate Nitinbhai in a senior position" in the party and that he should come with "at least 10 MLAs".
Patel was holding the hefty departments of Finance, Petrochemicals, Urban Development and Urban Housing, Roads and Buildings, Capital Project, Narmada, and Kalpasar, in the previous regime.
Vijay Rupani was on Tuesday (Dec 26) sworn in as CM of Gujarat for the second consecutive. Rupani, 61, and his deputy Nitin Patel were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor OP Kohli at a grand ceremony in Gandhinagar.
Lunawada MLA Ratansinh Rathod wrote to Gujarat Governor OP Kohli declaring his support to the BJP and also came to BJP headquarters in Gandhinagar to participate in the meeting of its newly elected MLAs to elect their leader.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in all likelihood will want Rupani and Patel to hold on to their posts until the 2019 general election.
BJP leader Nitin Patel and Congress party's Arjun Modhwadia today locked horns over the Patidar reservation issue that has taken centrestage in the run-up to the Gujarat elections. The leaders were participating in India TV's Chunav Manch conclave.
Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel was responding to a question on his recent outburst against PAAS leader Hardik Patel.
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