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Tag: Bhupendra Patel

  • Gujarat’s annual growth rate is 15%, higher than national average: CM Bhupendra Patel

    Express News Service

    AHMEDABAD: Gujarat’s economy has grown at a 15% annual rate, which is higher than the national average, said Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday during a state government roadshow in Mumbai to promote the 10th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (VGGS), which will be held from January 10-12 next year.

    “VGGS has increased Gujarat’s GSDP from Rs. 1.42 lakh crore in 2003 to Rs. 22.61 lakh crore in 2023. Furthermore, Gujarat’s economy has expanded at a cumulative annual growth rate of 15%, which is higher than the national average,” he said.

    “The summit has effectively brought together global investors and thought leaders on a single platform. Under the Prime Minister’s visionary leadership, this conference has evolved into a global platform for business networking and strategic partnership for socio-economic growth,” he added.

    The CM also said the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project will help improve the partnership between Gujarat and Mumbai at the social level.

    “38 percent of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor passes through Gujarat. Additionally, work is underway on the high-speed Mumbai-Ahmedabad rail corridor for the bullet train. These pivotal projects will benefit the logistics sector and economic activities of Gujarat and Mumbai,” he said.

    ALSO READ | SIT probing Gujarat bridge collapse points to technical lapses by private company

    The Chief Minister remarked that Gujarat’s forthcoming wave of economic growth will be driven by forward-looking industrial infrastructure projects such as GIFT City, DREAM City, the Hybrid Solar and Wind Renewable Energy Park and Dholera SIR.

    The CM emphasized that while Mumbai and Gujarat are renowned for the diamond trade, Surat serves as the central hub for polished diamonds, houses numerous diamond-cutting units and plays a significant role in the lab-grown diamond industry.

    “We will actively embody the theme “Gateway to the Future” by organizing seminars and events dedicated to emerging sectors in the forthcoming Vibrant Summit,” the Chief Minister added.

    Notably, Gujarat alone contributes to 80 percent of the nation’s diamond exports.

    During his address at the event, Chief Secretary Raj Kumar said Gujarat has become the best choice of investment for foreign investors, due to proactive policy-making, a conducive business environment and an investor-friendly approach.

    Around 35 diplomats and more than 350 leaders from business and industry sectors participated in the Mumbai roadshow. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    AHMEDABAD: Gujarat’s economy has grown at a 15% annual rate, which is higher than the national average, said Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday during a state government roadshow in Mumbai to promote the 10th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (VGGS), which will be held from January 10-12 next year.

    “VGGS has increased Gujarat’s GSDP from Rs. 1.42 lakh crore in 2003 to Rs. 22.61 lakh crore in 2023. Furthermore, Gujarat’s economy has expanded at a cumulative annual growth rate of 15%, which is higher than the national average,” he said.

    “The summit has effectively brought together global investors and thought leaders on a single platform. Under the Prime Minister’s visionary leadership, this conference has evolved into a global platform for business networking and strategic partnership for socio-economic growth,” he added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The CM also said the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project will help improve the partnership between Gujarat and Mumbai at the social level.

    “38 percent of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor passes through Gujarat. Additionally, work is underway on the high-speed Mumbai-Ahmedabad rail corridor for the bullet train. These pivotal projects will benefit the logistics sector and economic activities of Gujarat and Mumbai,” he said.

    ALSO READ | SIT probing Gujarat bridge collapse points to technical lapses by private company

    The Chief Minister remarked that Gujarat’s forthcoming wave of economic growth will be driven by forward-looking industrial infrastructure projects such as GIFT City, DREAM City, the Hybrid Solar and Wind Renewable Energy Park and Dholera SIR.

    The CM emphasized that while Mumbai and Gujarat are renowned for the diamond trade, Surat serves as the central hub for polished diamonds, houses numerous diamond-cutting units and plays a significant role in the lab-grown diamond industry.

    “We will actively embody the theme “Gateway to the Future” by organizing seminars and events dedicated to emerging sectors in the forthcoming Vibrant Summit,” the Chief Minister added.

    Notably, Gujarat alone contributes to 80 percent of the nation’s diamond exports.

    During his address at the event, Chief Secretary Raj Kumar said Gujarat has become the best choice of investment for foreign investors, due to proactive policy-making, a conducive business environment and an investor-friendly approach.

    Around 35 diplomats and more than 350 leaders from business and industry sectors participated in the Mumbai roadshow. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Storm in Gujarat BJP as several district chiefs quit party post

    Express News Service

    AHMEDABAD:  After winning 156 seats in assembly elections in December last year, the BJP is now witnessing the resignations of city and district chiefs one after another. On Wednesday, four district and city chiefs resigned. Presidents of Mehsana, Botad, Bhavnagar district and Bhavnagar city resigned.

    According to sources, this chief was asked to resign due to complaints and an internal dispute. A press release issued by BJP said: “The presidents of Mehsana, Botad, Bhavnagar district, and Bhavnagar city have voluntarily resigned due to personal reasons, indicating an inability to handle the responsibility, so the organisation body of Mehsana, Botad, Bhavnagar district, and Bhavnagar city has been dissolved.”

    Earlier this month, the presidents of districts of Banaskantha, Devbhumi Dwarka, Amreli, Surendranagar, Vadodara and Kheda were changed.

    BJP stated in the press release that they are the functionaries who were unable to accept the responsibility due to personal reasons. According to sources close to the party, the city and district presidents who resigned did not do so voluntarily; instead, they were asked to do so by the party after receiving complaints from local organisations. While some of them were also allegedly engaged in anti-party activity during the assembly elections so they were asked to resign, a source said.

    “Resignations have been taken in some places because the party promised to give positions to some angry leaders who were willing to leave the party during the assembly elections,” a source said. It is worth noting that the Gujarat BJP appointed former MLA Satish Patel as Vadodara president, despite being reportedly in a rebellious mood ahead of the assembly elections after the party denied him a ticket.

    BJP spokesperson Yamal Vyas told the media that “many presidents have been elected as MLAs so that they can do their work better as people’s representatives, and they want to stay among the people, whereas the BJP’s district president’s responsibility is full-time, and the city/district organisation is constantly working. As a result, it is difficult to work both positions, and those who felt they needed to devote more time as public representatives have resigned.”

    AHMEDABAD:  After winning 156 seats in assembly elections in December last year, the BJP is now witnessing the resignations of city and district chiefs one after another. On Wednesday, four district and city chiefs resigned. Presidents of Mehsana, Botad, Bhavnagar district and Bhavnagar city resigned.

    According to sources, this chief was asked to resign due to complaints and an internal dispute. A press release issued by BJP said: “The presidents of Mehsana, Botad, Bhavnagar district, and Bhavnagar city have voluntarily resigned due to personal reasons, indicating an inability to handle the responsibility, so the organisation body of Mehsana, Botad, Bhavnagar district, and Bhavnagar city has been dissolved.”

    Earlier this month, the presidents of districts of Banaskantha, Devbhumi Dwarka, Amreli, Surendranagar, Vadodara and Kheda were changed.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    BJP stated in the press release that they are the functionaries who were unable to accept the responsibility due to personal reasons. According to sources close to the party, the city and district presidents who resigned did not do so voluntarily; instead, they were asked to do so by the party after receiving complaints from local organisations. While some of them were also allegedly engaged in anti-party activity during the assembly elections so they were asked to resign, a source said.

    “Resignations have been taken in some places because the party promised to give positions to some angry leaders who were willing to leave the party during the assembly elections,” a source said. It is worth noting that the Gujarat BJP appointed former MLA Satish Patel as Vadodara president, despite being reportedly in a rebellious mood ahead of the assembly elections after the party denied him a ticket.

    BJP spokesperson Yamal Vyas told the media that “many presidents have been elected as MLAs so that they can do their work better as people’s representatives, and they want to stay among the people, whereas the BJP’s district president’s responsibility is full-time, and the city/district organisation is constantly working. As a result, it is difficult to work both positions, and those who felt they needed to devote more time as public representatives have resigned.”

  • Bhupendra Patel takes oath as Chief Minister of Gujarat for second term

    By Online Desk

    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Bhupendra Patel took oath as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for a second straight term in Gandhinagar on Monday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.

    He was administered the oath as the 18th chief minister by Governor Acharya Devvrat at a function held at the Helipad Ground near the new Secretariat in Gandhinagar.

    BJP MLAs Kanubhai Desai, Rushikesh Patel, Raghavji Patel and Balwantsinh Rajput took oath as Cabinet ministers.

    Additionally, Kuvarji Bavaliya, Mulubhai Bera, Kuber Dindor, Bhanuben Babariya were sworn in as Cabinet ministers.

    BJP MLAs Harsh Sanghavi and Jagdish Vishwakarma took oath as ministers of state (Independent charge). 

    EDITOR’S OPINION | Mt Modi and the lesser peaks, drawn to scale

    In the just-concluded Gujarat Assembly elections, counting for which was held on December 8, the BJP won a seventh straight term by winning record 156 seats in the 182-member House. The Congress won 17 constituencies and AAP 5.

    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Bhupendra Patel took oath as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for a second straight term in Gandhinagar on Monday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries.

    He was administered the oath as the 18th chief minister by Governor Acharya Devvrat at a function held at the Helipad Ground near the new Secretariat in Gandhinagar.

    BJP MLAs Kanubhai Desai, Rushikesh Patel, Raghavji Patel and Balwantsinh Rajput took oath as Cabinet ministers.

    Additionally, Kuvarji Bavaliya, Mulubhai Bera, Kuber Dindor, Bhanuben Babariya were sworn in as Cabinet ministers.

    BJP MLAs Harsh Sanghavi and Jagdish Vishwakarma took oath as ministers of state (Independent charge). 

    EDITOR’S OPINION | Mt Modi and the lesser peaks, drawn to scale

    In the just-concluded Gujarat Assembly elections, counting for which was held on December 8, the BJP won a seventh straight term by winning record 156 seats in the 182-member House. The Congress won 17 constituencies and AAP 5.

  • Gujarat: Bhupendra Patel to take oath as CM on Monday, PM Modi to attend 

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Bhupendra Patel will take oath as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for a second straight term in Gandhinagar on Monday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries, BJP leaders said on Sunday.

    Patel will be administered the oath as the 18th chief minister by Governor Acharya Devvrat at a function to be held at the Helipad Ground near the new Secretariat in Gandhinagar at 2 PM.

    Besides the prime minister, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and chief ministers of other BJP-ruled states are set to attend the swearing-in ceremony, BJP sources said.

    Along with Patel, some new ministers are also expected to take the oath.

    In the just-concluded Gujarat Assembly elections, counting for which was held on December 8, the BJP won a seventh straight term by winning record 156 seats in the 182-member House. The Congress won 17 constituencies and AAP 5.

    Patel, 60, resigned as chief minister along with his entire cabinet on Friday to pave the way for the formation of a new government following the election results.

    He was elected as the leader of the BJP legislative party on Saturday. He met the governor and staked the claim to form the next government.

    Patel won the Ghatlodia seat with the highest margin of 1.92 lakh votes in the elections. A low-profile BJP leader and the first from the Kadva Patidar sub-group to become CM, Patel replaced Vijay Rupani in September 2021.

    Meanwhile, hectic consultations are going on in BJP for picking ministerial candidates against the backdrop of the historic mandate given the party will have to walk the tightrope of balancing caste and regional representations, sources said.

    MLAs Kanu Desai, Raghavji Patel, Rushikesh Patel, Harsh Sanghavi, Shankar Chaudhary, Purnesh Modi, Manisha Vakil, Ramanlal Vora and Raman Patkar are among those expected to be inducted in the ministry, they added.

    AHMEDABAD: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Bhupendra Patel will take oath as the Chief Minister of Gujarat for a second straight term in Gandhinagar on Monday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries, BJP leaders said on Sunday.

    Patel will be administered the oath as the 18th chief minister by Governor Acharya Devvrat at a function to be held at the Helipad Ground near the new Secretariat in Gandhinagar at 2 PM.

    Besides the prime minister, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and chief ministers of other BJP-ruled states are set to attend the swearing-in ceremony, BJP sources said.

    Along with Patel, some new ministers are also expected to take the oath.

    In the just-concluded Gujarat Assembly elections, counting for which was held on December 8, the BJP won a seventh straight term by winning record 156 seats in the 182-member House. The Congress won 17 constituencies and AAP 5.

    Patel, 60, resigned as chief minister along with his entire cabinet on Friday to pave the way for the formation of a new government following the election results.

    He was elected as the leader of the BJP legislative party on Saturday. He met the governor and staked the claim to form the next government.

    Patel won the Ghatlodia seat with the highest margin of 1.92 lakh votes in the elections. A low-profile BJP leader and the first from the Kadva Patidar sub-group to become CM, Patel replaced Vijay Rupani in September 2021.

    Meanwhile, hectic consultations are going on in BJP for picking ministerial candidates against the backdrop of the historic mandate given the party will have to walk the tightrope of balancing caste and regional representations, sources said.

    MLAs Kanu Desai, Raghavji Patel, Rushikesh Patel, Harsh Sanghavi, Shankar Chaudhary, Purnesh Modi, Manisha Vakil, Ramanlal Vora and Raman Patkar are among those expected to be inducted in the ministry, they added.

  • Gujarat: Bhupendra Patel to continue as CM for second term; elected leader of BJP legislative party

    By PTI

    GANDHINAGAR: Bhupendra Patel will continue as the chief minister of Gujarat for a second straight term with the newly-elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs electing him as the leader of the legislative party during a meeting here on Saturday.

    Patel’s name was declared as the leader of the legislative party unanimously at the meeting held at the party’s state headquarters ‘Kamalam.’

    “The newly-elected MLAs met today at ‘Kamalam,’ where the proposal to name Bhupendra Patel as the chief minister of Gujarat was unanimously approved,” the BJP said in a statement.

    Patel, 60, had resigned as the chief minister along with his entire cabinet on Friday to pave the way for the formation of a new government in the state after the BJP registered a landslide victory in the just concluded Assembly elections.

    Senior BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, B S Yediyurappa and Arjun Munda were present for the meeting as the party’s central observers.

    Patel won a second straight term from the Ghatlodia Assembly seat in the Ahmedabad district by 1.92 lakh votes in this year’s election.

    In September last year, he replaced Vijay Rupani as the chief minister.

    The BJP registered a historic victory in Gujarat by clinching 156 seats in the 182-member House on Thursday, much higher than its tally of 99 seats in 2017.

    The party had already announced that the swearing-in ceremony of the new government will take place on December 12, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah will be present along with chief ministers of BJP-ruled states.

    Gujarat BJP chief C R Patil had said that Bhupendra Patel would continue as the chief minister and the swearing-in ceremony of the new government will take place on Monday at the Helipad Ground in Gandhinagar.ALSO READ | Record win shows Gujarat is a Modi citadel, micro-managed by him

    GANDHINAGAR: Bhupendra Patel will continue as the chief minister of Gujarat for a second straight term with the newly-elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs electing him as the leader of the legislative party during a meeting here on Saturday.

    Patel’s name was declared as the leader of the legislative party unanimously at the meeting held at the party’s state headquarters ‘Kamalam.’

    “The newly-elected MLAs met today at ‘Kamalam,’ where the proposal to name Bhupendra Patel as the chief minister of Gujarat was unanimously approved,” the BJP said in a statement.

    Patel, 60, had resigned as the chief minister along with his entire cabinet on Friday to pave the way for the formation of a new government in the state after the BJP registered a landslide victory in the just concluded Assembly elections.

    Senior BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, B S Yediyurappa and Arjun Munda were present for the meeting as the party’s central observers.

    Patel won a second straight term from the Ghatlodia Assembly seat in the Ahmedabad district by 1.92 lakh votes in this year’s election.

    In September last year, he replaced Vijay Rupani as the chief minister.

    The BJP registered a historic victory in Gujarat by clinching 156 seats in the 182-member House on Thursday, much higher than its tally of 99 seats in 2017.

    The party had already announced that the swearing-in ceremony of the new government will take place on December 12, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah will be present along with chief ministers of BJP-ruled states.

    Gujarat BJP chief C R Patil had said that Bhupendra Patel would continue as the chief minister and the swearing-in ceremony of the new government will take place on Monday at the Helipad Ground in Gandhinagar.ALSO READ | Record win shows Gujarat is a Modi citadel, micro-managed by him

  • Bhupendra Patel resigns as Gujarat CM, set for another term

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel tendered his resignation along with his entire cabinet on Friday to pave the way for formation of a new government in the state after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) landslide victory in the Assembly elections.

    The BJP registered a historic victory in Gujarat by clinching 156 seats in the 182-member House. Patel, accompanied by Gujarat BJP chief C R Paatil and party’s chief whip Pankaj Desai, handed over his resignation to Governor Acharya Devvrat at the Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar.

    This is just a formality as the party has already announced that Patel will be the next chief minister of the state ahead of the polls.

    On Thursday, the state BJP chief had once again announced the Patel would continue to occupy the top post in the state and his swearing-in ceremony would be held on December 12.

    “The governor had accepted the resignation of the chief minister and his cabinet. Till the formation of the new government, Patel will remain as the caretaker chief minister,” Desai told reporters outside Raj Bhavan.

    In a letter, Paatil informed the governor that the BJP, which has won 156 out of 182 seats, has called a legislative party meeting of all the newly-elected MLAs on Saturday morning to elect a new leader, who will eventually become the next chief minister.

    “The meeting of MLAs will be held at 10 am on Saturday at the party headquarter Kamalam in Gandhinagar.

    The governor will be informed about the election of a new leader in the afternoon, for which we have sought time from him. The swearing in of the new chief minister and his cabinet will take place as per the governor’s instructions,” Desai said.

    Paatil had announced that the swearing-in ceremony of the new government will take place on Monday at the Helipad Ground in Gandhinagar.

    AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel tendered his resignation along with his entire cabinet on Friday to pave the way for formation of a new government in the state after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) landslide victory in the Assembly elections.

    The BJP registered a historic victory in Gujarat by clinching 156 seats in the 182-member House. Patel, accompanied by Gujarat BJP chief C R Paatil and party’s chief whip Pankaj Desai, handed over his resignation to Governor Acharya Devvrat at the Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar.

    This is just a formality as the party has already announced that Patel will be the next chief minister of the state ahead of the polls.

    On Thursday, the state BJP chief had once again announced the Patel would continue to occupy the top post in the state and his swearing-in ceremony would be held on December 12.

    “The governor had accepted the resignation of the chief minister and his cabinet. Till the formation of the new government, Patel will remain as the caretaker chief minister,” Desai told reporters outside Raj Bhavan.

    In a letter, Paatil informed the governor that the BJP, which has won 156 out of 182 seats, has called a legislative party meeting of all the newly-elected MLAs on Saturday morning to elect a new leader, who will eventually become the next chief minister.

    “The meeting of MLAs will be held at 10 am on Saturday at the party headquarter Kamalam in Gandhinagar.

    The governor will be informed about the election of a new leader in the afternoon, for which we have sought time from him. The swearing in of the new chief minister and his cabinet will take place as per the governor’s instructions,” Desai said.

    Paatil had announced that the swearing-in ceremony of the new government will take place on Monday at the Helipad Ground in Gandhinagar.

  • Gujarat: After staying away from BJP in 2017, Patidars back ruling party to the hilt in 2022 polls

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: The Patidar community, a section of which had voted against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2017 Assembly polls held in the backdrop of the quota agitation in Gujarat, returned to the ruling outfit in the 2022 elections, helping it win most of the seats dominated by the influential social group.

    The BJP has done extremely well in the Patidar-dominated constituencies of the state, winning almost every seat that has significant Patel population.

    Polling for the 182-member Gujarat Assembly took place on December 1 and 5, and votes were counted on December 8.

    In the Saurashtra region, the Congress had won Patidar-dominated seats of Morbi, Tankara, Dhoraji and Amreli, among others in 2017. However, all these Assembly segments this time went in the BJP’s kitty.

    In Patidar-dominated Surat, where the AAP was banking on the community to bag a few seats, the social group by and large backed the ruling party. The saffron outfit won Patidar seats of Varachha Road, Katargam and Olpad with huge margins.

    In North Gujarat, the Congress had won Patidar-dominated Unjha seat five year ago, but this time it was wrested by the BJP. The BJP, ahead of the 2022 elections, reached out to the Patel community.

    The party replaced its Chief Minister Vijay Rupani with incumbent Bhupendra Patel in September 2021.

    The ruling outfit brought in Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel to its fold from the Congress and fielded him from the Viramgam Assembly seat from where he won by a handsome margin.

    ALSO READ| Gujarat: Clinching Viramgam seat in poll debut is no cakewalk for Patidar face Hardik Patel

    The biggest move of the BJP at the state and central level which placated the community was giving 10 per cent quota in jobs and education to the poor (economically weaker sections or EWS) among “upper castes”.

    The 2017 polls were fought in the shadow of Hardik Patel-led quota agitation launched to secure OBC status for the community. In the 2017 elections, despite setting an ambitious target of winning 150 out of the 182 seats, the BJP bagged just 99 seats.

    Thanks to the Patidar quota agitation and whirlwind campaign by Hardik Patel against the BJP, the opposition Congress had then emerged victorious on 77 seats.

    As per community’s estimate, there are nearly 40 seats in Gujarat where Patidar voters play a decisive role. These seats are scattered across rural as well as urban landscapes of the state.

    Though Patels account for nearly 18 per cent of Gujarat’s population, 44 Patidar MLAs were elected in 2017, which showed their influence on electoral politics in Gujarat.

    Some of the seats having high concentration of Patidar voters in Saurashtra region are Morbi, Tankara, Gondal, Dhoraji, Amreli, Savarkundla, Jetpur, Rajkot East, Rajkot West and Rajkot South.

    While Vijapur, Visnagar, Mehsana and Unjha seats in north Gujarat have considerable number of Patidar voters, at least five seats of Ahmedabad city – Ghatlodia, Sabarmati, Maninagar, Nikol and Naroda – are also considered Patel-dominated segments.

    In south Gujarat, several seats in Surat district are considered Patidar bastion, including Varachha, Kamrej, Katargam and Surat North.

    For the 2022 polls, the BJP had given tickets to 41 Patidars, one more than the Congress’s tally. The AAP had also given tickets to a significant number of members from the community.

    To keep the community happy, the saffron outfit had also declared that Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will be retained on the post after the elections.

    Ahead of the polls, the Jamnagar-based Sidsar Umiyadham Trust, which represents the Kadva Patidar sect, had demanded that the BJP field at least 50 Patidar candidates.

    AHMEDABAD: The Patidar community, a section of which had voted against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2017 Assembly polls held in the backdrop of the quota agitation in Gujarat, returned to the ruling outfit in the 2022 elections, helping it win most of the seats dominated by the influential social group.

    The BJP has done extremely well in the Patidar-dominated constituencies of the state, winning almost every seat that has significant Patel population.

    Polling for the 182-member Gujarat Assembly took place on December 1 and 5, and votes were counted on December 8.

    In the Saurashtra region, the Congress had won Patidar-dominated seats of Morbi, Tankara, Dhoraji and Amreli, among others in 2017. However, all these Assembly segments this time went in the BJP’s kitty.

    In Patidar-dominated Surat, where the AAP was banking on the community to bag a few seats, the social group by and large backed the ruling party. The saffron outfit won Patidar seats of Varachha Road, Katargam and Olpad with huge margins.

    In North Gujarat, the Congress had won Patidar-dominated Unjha seat five year ago, but this time it was wrested by the BJP. The BJP, ahead of the 2022 elections, reached out to the Patel community.

    The party replaced its Chief Minister Vijay Rupani with incumbent Bhupendra Patel in September 2021.

    The ruling outfit brought in Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel to its fold from the Congress and fielded him from the Viramgam Assembly seat from where he won by a handsome margin.

    ALSO READ| Gujarat: Clinching Viramgam seat in poll debut is no cakewalk for Patidar face Hardik Patel

    The biggest move of the BJP at the state and central level which placated the community was giving 10 per cent quota in jobs and education to the poor (economically weaker sections or EWS) among “upper castes”.

    The 2017 polls were fought in the shadow of Hardik Patel-led quota agitation launched to secure OBC status for the community. In the 2017 elections, despite setting an ambitious target of winning 150 out of the 182 seats, the BJP bagged just 99 seats.

    Thanks to the Patidar quota agitation and whirlwind campaign by Hardik Patel against the BJP, the opposition Congress had then emerged victorious on 77 seats.

    As per community’s estimate, there are nearly 40 seats in Gujarat where Patidar voters play a decisive role. These seats are scattered across rural as well as urban landscapes of the state.

    Though Patels account for nearly 18 per cent of Gujarat’s population, 44 Patidar MLAs were elected in 2017, which showed their influence on electoral politics in Gujarat.

    Some of the seats having high concentration of Patidar voters in Saurashtra region are Morbi, Tankara, Gondal, Dhoraji, Amreli, Savarkundla, Jetpur, Rajkot East, Rajkot West and Rajkot South.

    While Vijapur, Visnagar, Mehsana and Unjha seats in north Gujarat have considerable number of Patidar voters, at least five seats of Ahmedabad city – Ghatlodia, Sabarmati, Maninagar, Nikol and Naroda – are also considered Patel-dominated segments.

    In south Gujarat, several seats in Surat district are considered Patidar bastion, including Varachha, Kamrej, Katargam and Surat North.

    For the 2022 polls, the BJP had given tickets to 41 Patidars, one more than the Congress’s tally. The AAP had also given tickets to a significant number of members from the community.

    To keep the community happy, the saffron outfit had also declared that Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel will be retained on the post after the elections.

    Ahead of the polls, the Jamnagar-based Sidsar Umiyadham Trust, which represents the Kadva Patidar sect, had demanded that the BJP field at least 50 Patidar candidates.

  • Bhupendra Patel to continue as Gujarat CM, oath-taking ceremony to be attended by PM: Paatil

    The BJP is set for a landslide victory in Gujarat to retain power for a seventh straight term and is likely to break previous records by winning the highest number of seats in any assembly election in

  • Gujarat polls | Bhupendra is `puppet CM’, can not even change his peon: Kejriwal

    By PTI

    DEVBHUMI DWARKA: Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said Bhupendra Patel is a “puppet Chief Minister” of Gujarat who can not even appoint his peon.

    Speaking at a campaign rally at Khambhalia in Devbhumi Dwarka district for AAP’s chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi, he also alleged that there is secret collusion between the BJP and Congress.

    “There are two faces before the people of Gujarat. One is Isudan Gadhvi and the other is Bhupendra Patel. Who will you vote for, who will you make chief minister?” Kejriwal asked.

    Gadhvi is a young, educated man “whose heart beats for the poor” and he is also the son of a farmer, the Delhi chief minister said.

    “When he hosted a show on TV, he raised the issues of farmers and did not indulge in ‘tu-tu-main-main’ (noisy debates). He has worked for the farmers and dedicated his life for the farmers and unemployed youth,” Kejriwal said.

    “On the other hand, there is Bhupendra Patel. He has no power, he is a ‘kathputli’ (puppet) CM. He cannot even change his peon. He is a good man, he is not bad. I have heard that he is very religious. But nobody listens to him. He is a puppet CM,” the AAP leader said, asking the audience if they wanted a puppet CM or an educated CM.

    Kejriwal also claimed that chairs were empty at Union home minister Amit Shah’s rally at Khambhalia on Monday.

    “People of Khambhalia did not attend his rally, and today thousands of people have come here….They are here to make their son Isudan the CM of Gujarat,” he said.

    Earlier, people had no option even if they wanted to throw out the BJP, and the Congress is in cahoots with the ruling party from the inside, Kejriwal claimed.

    He compared the relationship between the BJP and Congress to that between a boy and a girl who meet secretly before marriage.

    “When you ask them, they will say there is nothing but friendship between them. Similarly, when you ask them (Congress and BJP), they will say there is nothing but friendship between us. I am telling them that this is enough, they are exposed now, and should get married. Everybody knows that you are a couple, so get married,” he said.

    But now there was a “real chance” to choose an alternative in the form of the AAP, Kejriwal added.

    There was a wave in favour of his party in Gujarat, the Delhi chief minister claimed.

    “I wonder how this happened, and then I close my eyes and bring my hands together and realise that it is being organised by some divine power,” he said, adding that his party has the blessings of “Lord Krishna and Devi.”

    “It is written in the Gita that whenever the vessel of sins is full, God sweeps his broom,” he said.

    DEVBHUMI DWARKA: Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said Bhupendra Patel is a “puppet Chief Minister” of Gujarat who can not even appoint his peon.

    Speaking at a campaign rally at Khambhalia in Devbhumi Dwarka district for AAP’s chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi, he also alleged that there is secret collusion between the BJP and Congress.

    “There are two faces before the people of Gujarat. One is Isudan Gadhvi and the other is Bhupendra Patel. Who will you vote for, who will you make chief minister?” Kejriwal asked.

    Gadhvi is a young, educated man “whose heart beats for the poor” and he is also the son of a farmer, the Delhi chief minister said.

    “When he hosted a show on TV, he raised the issues of farmers and did not indulge in ‘tu-tu-main-main’ (noisy debates). He has worked for the farmers and dedicated his life for the farmers and unemployed youth,” Kejriwal said.

    “On the other hand, there is Bhupendra Patel. He has no power, he is a ‘kathputli’ (puppet) CM. He cannot even change his peon. He is a good man, he is not bad. I have heard that he is very religious. But nobody listens to him. He is a puppet CM,” the AAP leader said, asking the audience if they wanted a puppet CM or an educated CM.

    Kejriwal also claimed that chairs were empty at Union home minister Amit Shah’s rally at Khambhalia on Monday.

    “People of Khambhalia did not attend his rally, and today thousands of people have come here….They are here to make their son Isudan the CM of Gujarat,” he said.

    Earlier, people had no option even if they wanted to throw out the BJP, and the Congress is in cahoots with the ruling party from the inside, Kejriwal claimed.

    He compared the relationship between the BJP and Congress to that between a boy and a girl who meet secretly before marriage.

    “When you ask them, they will say there is nothing but friendship between them. Similarly, when you ask them (Congress and BJP), they will say there is nothing but friendship between us. I am telling them that this is enough, they are exposed now, and should get married. Everybody knows that you are a couple, so get married,” he said.

    But now there was a “real chance” to choose an alternative in the form of the AAP, Kejriwal added.

    There was a wave in favour of his party in Gujarat, the Delhi chief minister claimed.

    “I wonder how this happened, and then I close my eyes and bring my hands together and realise that it is being organised by some divine power,” he said, adding that his party has the blessings of “Lord Krishna and Devi.”

    “It is written in the Gita that whenever the vessel of sins is full, God sweeps his broom,” he said.

  • Gujarat polls | Bhupendra Patel is ‘puppet CM’, can’t even change his peon: Kejriwal

    By PTI

    DEVBHUMI DWARKA: Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said Bhupendra Patel is a “puppet Chief Minister” of Gujarat who can not even appoint his peon.

    Speaking at a campaign rally at Khambhalia in Devbhumi Dwarka district for AAP’s chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi, he also alleged that there is secret collusion between the BJP and Congress.

    “There are two faces before the people of Gujarat. One is Isudan Gadhvi and the other is Bhupendra Patel. Who will you vote for, who will you make chief minister?” Kejriwal asked.

    Gadhvi is a young, educated man “whose heart beats for the poor” and he is also the son of a farmer, the Delhi chief minister said.

    “When he hosted a show on TV, he raised the issues of farmers and did not indulge in ‘tu-tu-main-main’ (noisy debates). He has worked for the farmers and dedicated his life for the farmers and unemployed youth,” Kejriwal said.

    “On the other hand, there is Bhupendra Patel. He has no power, he is a ‘kathputli’ (puppet) CM. He cannot even change his peon. He is a good man, he is not bad. I have heard that he is very religious. But nobody listens to him. He is a puppet CM,” the AAP leader said, asking the audience if they wanted a puppet CM or an educated CM.

    Kejriwal also claimed that chairs were empty at Union home minister Amit Shah’s rally at Khambhalia on Monday.

    “People of Khambhalia did not attend his rally, and today thousands of people have come here….They are here to make their son Isudan the CM of Gujarat,” he said.

    Earlier, people had no option even if they wanted to throw out the BJP, and the Congress is in cahoots with the ruling party from the inside, Kejriwal claimed.

    He compared the relationship between the BJP and Congress to that between a boy and a girl who meet secretly before marriage.

    “When you ask them, they will say there is nothing but friendship between them. Similarly, when you ask them (Congress and BJP), they will say there is nothing but friendship between us. I am telling them that this is enough, they are exposed now, and should get married. Everybody knows that you are a couple, so get married,” he said.

    But now there was a “real chance” to choose an alternative in the form of the AAP, Kejriwal added.

    There was a wave in favour of his party in Gujarat, the Delhi chief minister claimed.

    “I wonder how this happened, and then I close my eyes and bring my hands together and realise that it is being organised by some divine power,” he said, adding that his party has the blessings of “Lord Krishna and Devi.”

    “It is written in the Gita that whenever the vessel of sins is full, God sweeps his broom,” he said.

    DEVBHUMI DWARKA: Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said Bhupendra Patel is a “puppet Chief Minister” of Gujarat who can not even appoint his peon.

    Speaking at a campaign rally at Khambhalia in Devbhumi Dwarka district for AAP’s chief ministerial candidate Isudan Gadhvi, he also alleged that there is secret collusion between the BJP and Congress.

    “There are two faces before the people of Gujarat. One is Isudan Gadhvi and the other is Bhupendra Patel. Who will you vote for, who will you make chief minister?” Kejriwal asked.

    Gadhvi is a young, educated man “whose heart beats for the poor” and he is also the son of a farmer, the Delhi chief minister said.

    “When he hosted a show on TV, he raised the issues of farmers and did not indulge in ‘tu-tu-main-main’ (noisy debates). He has worked for the farmers and dedicated his life for the farmers and unemployed youth,” Kejriwal said.

    “On the other hand, there is Bhupendra Patel. He has no power, he is a ‘kathputli’ (puppet) CM. He cannot even change his peon. He is a good man, he is not bad. I have heard that he is very religious. But nobody listens to him. He is a puppet CM,” the AAP leader said, asking the audience if they wanted a puppet CM or an educated CM.

    Kejriwal also claimed that chairs were empty at Union home minister Amit Shah’s rally at Khambhalia on Monday.

    “People of Khambhalia did not attend his rally, and today thousands of people have come here….They are here to make their son Isudan the CM of Gujarat,” he said.

    Earlier, people had no option even if they wanted to throw out the BJP, and the Congress is in cahoots with the ruling party from the inside, Kejriwal claimed.

    He compared the relationship between the BJP and Congress to that between a boy and a girl who meet secretly before marriage.

    “When you ask them, they will say there is nothing but friendship between them. Similarly, when you ask them (Congress and BJP), they will say there is nothing but friendship between us. I am telling them that this is enough, they are exposed now, and should get married. Everybody knows that you are a couple, so get married,” he said.

    But now there was a “real chance” to choose an alternative in the form of the AAP, Kejriwal added.

    There was a wave in favour of his party in Gujarat, the Delhi chief minister claimed.

    “I wonder how this happened, and then I close my eyes and bring my hands together and realise that it is being organised by some divine power,” he said, adding that his party has the blessings of “Lord Krishna and Devi.”

    “It is written in the Gita that whenever the vessel of sins is full, God sweeps his broom,” he said.