News Analysis India

Tag: Bhupendra Patel

  • Gujarat: PM Modi’s Madison Square program successor Harsh Sanghavi gets 9 portfolios in Bhupendra Patel cabinet 

    Express News Service

    The man who was behind the mega success of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Madison Square Garden program in US, bagged the highest nine portfolios in newly-elected Gujarat chief minister Bhupendra Patel’s 24 council of ministers.

    The 38-year-old Harsh Sanghavi, BJP MLA from Surat-Majura constituency has been allocated the nine ministerial portfolios that include Home, Disaster Management and Police Housing; Minister for State in Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities, NRI, Excise and Prohibition, Border Security and Prisons.

    Harsh Sanghavi was one of the key persons behind the mega success of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Madison Square Garden program. As per the elections affidavit, Sanghavi studied up to class 9th and is a diamond merchant by profession who started his political career at a very young age, and now he is one of the youngest ministers in Bhupendra Patel’s cabinet. In 2014, Lok Sabha polls, Sanghavi campaigned for Modi not only in Gujarat but other states as well. He also campaigned in the Varanasi constituency.

    “Mr Sanghavi is very popular among the youth and has got a very good network in BJP. He developed an overseas network by forming various forums like the Narendra Modi fan club, Overseas India etc. These forums help him to get the crowd to any program of PM Narendra Modi in any country of the world. The good relations with Narendra Modi has paid him off today by getting the highest numbers of portfolios at a young age,” said Gujarat-based senior journalist.

    He added that in 2015, during Patidar agitation, no one was coming forward. “Many BJP leaders were in the shell but Harsh Sanghavi came forward and was trying to manage the protestors. Harsh is full of ideas and masters in even management. Therefore, in a limited period of his career, he climbed many ladders of political success,” he said.

    Sanghvi first got elected as MLA in 2012 at the age of 27 from the Majura constituency of Surat.

    “Mr Sangahvi is a political leader but his social work during pandemic has also been appreciated by many people. The major factor behind giving several portfolios to Sanghavi could be the rise of AAP in Surat particularly in Surat Municipal Corporation where APP won 27 seats and became the main Opposition party. The growing clout of AAP is a major concern for the BJP and BJP wants to counter by giving opportunities to a young leader like Harsh Sanghavi,” a political observer said. 

  • Gujarat: Team Rupani blanked out in Bhupendra Patel ministry

    Express News Service

    Gujarat perhaps got its most inexperienced ministry ever on Thursday with as many as 21 of the 24 who took oath of office and secrecy as ministers being first-timers. That the ministry is being led by another first-timer lawmaker Bhupendra Patel indicates that the real power centre has shifted to Delhi.

    Not one representative of the outgoing Rupani government figured in the new ministry, obliquely echoing the Opposition’s charges of incompetence. Applying the no-repeat yardstick to form the new government is fraught with challenges of rebellion, but the BJP appears confident of containing it, smug as it is in the understanding that they owe their position as lawmakers to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vote-catching ability. 

    The first stirrings of resentment came from Mansukh Vasava, BJP’s Lok Sabha member from Baruch. “Baruch district has BJP MLAs but no representation in the new ministry. There is unrest among party workers; it will have consequences,” Vasava warned.  Congratulating the new team, Modi said, “These are outstanding karyakartas who have devoted their lives to public service and spreading our party’s development agenda.”

    BJP general secretary in-charge of Gujarat Bhupendra Yadav said a combination of factors went into deciding the new team. “We wanted to include fresh, young and experienced faces. They may not have ministerial experience but they got enough administrative exposure. The outgoing ministers have loads of experience; their talents will be used to expand the party’s base,” Yadav said.

    As expected, Patidars and OBCs found the biggest representation in the ministry. The new team has seven Patidar ministers, including the CM. Four of them are from Saurashtra, where the BJP did badly in the last elections. It also has two Brahmins, two Kshatriyas, two SCs and four STs. 

    Modi is known for bold decisions and political innovations, said a veteran Gujarat journalist. “In 2005, after taking charge as Gujarat CM, Modi refused to repeat any incumbent in the local body elections. He fielded new faces and that gamble paid off. Ever since, such experiments are carried out in Gujarat first and replicated elsewhere later,” he said. 

    Surprise phone callsLike the CM himself, most of the ministers were surprised to get a phone call from state BJP unit chief C R Patil asking them to attend the swearing-in ceremony

  • Outstanding karyakartas who devoted their lives to service: PM Narendra Modi on new Gujarat cabinet

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Congratulating the Gujarat ministers sworn in on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded them as outstanding karyakartas who have devoted their lives to public service and spreading the BJP’s development agenda.

    Making amply clear that it is in a mood for a complete overhaul in Gujarat ahead of the 2022 state polls, the BJP on Thursday inducted 24 ministers, including 21 who have become ministers for the first time. With the fresh inductions, the strength of the ministry led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, a first-term MLA, has gone up to 25.

    Congratulations to all Party colleagues who have taken oath as Ministers in the Gujarat Government. These are outstanding Karyakartas who have devoted their lives to public service and spreading our Party’s development agenda. Best wishes for a fruitful tenure ahead.
    — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 16, 2021
    No minister from the earlier Vijay Rupani-led ministry was inducted.

    Modi tweeted, “Congratulations to all Party colleagues who have taken oath as Ministers in the Gujarat Government. These are outstanding Karyakartas who have devoted their lives to public service and spreading our Party’s development agenda. Best wishes for a fruitful tenure ahead.”

  • Gujarat: 24 ministers sworn in, taking new CM Bhupendra Patel’s cabinet strength to 25

    By PTI

    GANDHINAGAR: Making amply clear that it is in a mood for a complete overhaul in Gujarat ahead of the 2022 state polls, the BJP on Thursday inducted 24 ministers, including 21 who have become ministers for the first time.

    With the fresh inductions, the strength of the ministry led by CM Bhupendra Patel, a first-term MLA and minister, has gone up to 25. Those sworn in at the 1:30 pm Raj Bhavan ceremony include former Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi and former state BJP president Jitu Vaghani.

    No minister from the earlier Vijay Rupani-led ministry was inducted. Governor Acharya Devvrat administered the oath to 10 cabinet ministers and 14 ministers of state, including five ministers of state with independent charge.

    Bhupendra Patel (59), who was sworn in as the 17th chief minister of the state on Monday, was present at the Raj Bhavan ceremony, along with Rupani, whose sudden resignation from the post on Saturday led to the formation of the new ministry.

    The following were sworn in as cabinet ministers: Rajendra Trivedi, Jitu Vaghani, Rushikesh Patel, Purnesh Modi, Raghavji Patel, Kanubhai Desai, Kiritsinh Rana, Naresh Patel, Pradip Parmar and Arjunsinh Chauhan.

    Trivedi, Rana and Raghavji Patel have been ministers earlier. The nine ministers of state are Mukesh Patel, Nimisha Suthar, Arvind Raiyani, Kuber Dindor, Kirtisinh Vaghela, Gajendrasinh Parmar, R C Makwana, Vinod Moradia and Deva Malam.

    Ahead of the swearing-in, there were speculations that senior ministers in the Rupani ministry, like Nitin Patel, Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, Kaushik Patel, Pradeepsinh Jadeja, and R C Faldu may not be included.

    The BJP took the “no-repeat” formula a step further by not inducting any member of the Rupani ministry. Political observers say the BJP expects to make an impact ahead of the 2022 Assembly polls with this new-look ministry.

    After picking Patel, a Patidar community leader as the CM, the BJP has given berth to six Patels and OBCs each, four from scheduled tribes, three from scheduled castes, two each from among brahmins and kshatriyas and one member from the Jain community.

  • Gujarat: Bhupendra Patel govt’s new ministers to take oath today

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: New ministers of the Bhupendra Patel-led government in Gujarat will take oath on Thursday at Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar amid speculation that the BJP may induct new faces into the state cabinet, with just over a year left for the state Assembly polls.

    There has been suspense over ministerial faces, whose names have not been declared so far, in the backdrop of the BJP’s “no repeat” formula.

    Earlier, the ruling BJP announced that the swearing-in ceremony would be held on Wednesday afternoon and preparations for the same had started at the governor’s house in the state capital.

    However, the plan was later dropped all of a sudden and banners of the swearing-in ceremony were also taken down.

    Neither the BJP nor the state government gave any reason for the postponement.

    On Wednesday evening, the Chief Minister’s Office announced that the swearing-in ceremony of new ministers will be held at 1.30 pm at the Raj Bhavan in the state capital Gandhinagar on Thursday.

    Patel (59), a first-time MLA from Ahmedabad, took over as the new Gujarat chief minister on Monday after the sudden resignation of Vijay Rupani last Saturday.

    According to sources, the BJP leadership has decided to try new faces this time and drop almost all the past ministers, even some senior ones, who were part of the previous Rupani government.

    However, there was no official word from the BJP about it.

    Many believe that the “no repeat” formula has been proposed keeping in mind the 2022 Assembly polls as the BJP, which has been in power in Gujarat for more than two decades, wants to go to voters with a clean slate.

  • Axe to fall on all ex-ministers? Oath-taking put off amid unease in Gujarat

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI:  The BJP is making a big gamble ahead of the 2022 Gujarat state Assembly elections by showing the door to all ministers who served in the Vijay Rupani government. The party’s no-repeat theory means only fresh faces will be inducted into the new cabinet. 

    Sources said, the new Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel was forced to cancel the scheduled swearing-in of his cabinet on Wednesday due to resentment from the old guard over the no-repeat theory of the party’s high command. The stage where the swearing-in event was to take place was reportedly dismantled on Wednesday.

    After news of the no-repeat theory came out, supporters of Kunvrji Bavaliya, an influential leader of the fishing community, who was a minister in the Rupani government, expressed their displeasure at their leader being dropped from the new cabinet.They said the BJP must prepare to face the consequences if Bavaliya is not given a place in Patel’s cabinet. 

    “The BJP high command has given green signal to Bhupendra Patel for no-repeat theory cabinet. All the ministers of former chief minister Vijay Rupani cabinet will be dropped and replaced with new and fresh faces. Besides, former ministers are also unlikely to get a place in the new cabinet.

    But looking at the resentment, Bhupendra Patel was forced to cancel the scheduled swearing on Wednesday because Mr Patel wants everyone on the same page. He wants to make consensus among all young and old people and then go ahead BJP high command plan,” said a senior BJP leader on condition of anonymity.

    “ Bhupendra Patel, a first-time MLA, was surprisingly made the chief minister of Gujarat. On the same lines, fresh faces will be inducted into the new cabinet. The BJP high command has instructed that no old and former ministers should be included in the new cabinet. The priority will be given to young and fresh faces ahead of the 2022 Gujarat state Assembly elections,” the source added.

    “The old guards and former ministers are insisting that if they are not given a place in the new cabinet, at least their loyalists or close associates must be inducted. A heavy lobbying has been done by the old guard,” said senor a journalist from Gujarat.

  • Gujarat: New ministers to take oath on Thursday

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: New ministers of the Bhupendra Patel-led government in Gujarat will take the oath on Thursday, a state BJP spokesperson said.

    The swearing-in ceremony of the new ministers, whose names have not been declared so far, will be held at 1.30 pm in the state capital Gandhinagar, an official said.

    The party had earlier in the day said the ceremony would be held on Wednesday.

    Even the posters at Raj Bhavan had mentioned September 15 as the date for the ceremony.

    However, the posters were taken down Wednesday afternoon.

    The governor’s office confirmed that the ceremony has been postponed to Thursday.

    “The swearing-in ceremony of ministers will take place at 1.30 pm on Thursday,” Manish Bharadwaj, officer on special duty to Governor Acharya Devvrat, told PTI.

    Gujarat BJP spokesperson Yamal Vyas had in the morning said the ceremony was scheduled after 2 pm in Gandhinagar on Wednesday.

    Neither the BJP nor the state government gave any reason for the postponement.

    Gujarat BJP in-charge Bhupender Yadav has been holding marathon meetings in Gandhinagar for the last two days to finalise the names to be included in the new cabinet.

    There is talk that Patel may induct many new faces in his cabinet and several old-timers may have to make way for them.

    Patel (59) took over as the Gujarat chief minister on Monday after the sudden resignation of Vijay Rupani on Saturday.

    He was unanimously elected BJP legislature party leader on Sunday and was sworn in as the state’s 17th chief minister by the governor in Gandhinagar on Monday.

    Only he took the oath at the ceremony.

    Patel’s elevation is being attributed to his closeness to former Gujarat chief minister and current Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel.

    With the state Assembly elections scheduled in December 2022, the BJP is banking on Patel, a Patidar, for poll victory.

    In the 2017 Assembly elections, the BJP won 99 of the 182 seats and the Congress got 77.

  • Gujarat: Bhupendra Patel transfers 4 senior bureaucrats from CMO

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Ahead of the swearing-in of new ministers of the Bhupendra Patel government in Gujarat, four senior IAS officers were on Wednesday shifted out of the Chief Minister’s Office.

    As per a notification issued on Wednesday, the bureaucrats who have been transferred include M K Das, who was serving as the additional chief secretary (ACS) to the CM, and Ashwani Kumar, who was secretary to the chief minister.

    Two officers on special duty (OSDs) K N Shah and D H Shah were also transferred.

    Patel, who took charge as the state’s chief minister on Monday, has chosen to replace all the main officers in the CMO, official sources said.

    M K Das has been replaced by Pankaj Joshi, who was serving as the ACS in finance department, while IAS officer Avantika Singh Aulakh has been appointed secretary to the CM in place of Ashwani Kumar.

    Besides, Bharuch Collector M D Modia and Ahmedabad’s Deputy Municipal Commissioner N N Dave have been appointed as OSDs to the CM.

    Patel (59) took over as the Gujarat chief minister on Monday after the sudden resignation of Vijay Rupani last Saturday.

  • Gujarat cabinet reshuffle likely; new ministers to take oath today

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: New ministers of the Bhupendra Patel government in Gujarat are going to the oath of office and secrecy on Wednesday afternoon, a state BJP spokesperson said.

    The swearing-in ceremony of the new ministers, whose names are not yet declared, will be held after 2 pm in the capital city Gandhinagar, state party spokesperson Yamal Vyas said.

    Patel (59) took over as the Gujarat chief minister on Monday after the sudden resignation of Vijay Rupani on Saturday.

    Only Patel had taken oath that day.

    ​ALSO READ | New Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel takes stock of floods on day 1 in office

    Gujarat BJP in-charge Bhupender Yadav has been holding marathon meetings in Gandhinagar since the last two days to finalise the names of those to be included in the new cabinet.

    There are speculations that Patel would induct many new faces in his cabinet, and several old timers may have to vacate the space for young leaders.

    Patel was unanimously elected the BJP legislature party leader on Sunday and was sworn in as the state’s 17th chief minister by Governor Acharya Devvrat in Gandhinagar on Monday.

    His elevation to the coveted post is being attributed to his closeness to former Gujarat chief minister and current Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel.

    With the state Assembly elections scheduled in December 2022, the BJP is banking on Patel, a Patidar, for poll victory.

    In the 2017 Assembly elections, the BJP won 99 of the 182 seats and the Congress got 77.

  • Why change chief minister if Gujarat was on path of progress? asks Shiv Sena

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena on Tuesday said the sudden change of guard in Gandhinagar, where first-time BJP MLA Bhupendra Patel has been appointed the new chief minister, reflected the style of functioning generally associated with the Congress and claimed the move shows the ‘balloon’ of Gujarat’s development model has burst.

    An editorial in Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ said that the people of Gujarat were extremely angry over the “collapse” of healthcare system during the second wave of COVID-19, when Vijay Rupani was the chief minister, and the BJP also realized that the influential Patidar community, to which Patel belongs, is miffed with the party, leading to the change at the top in the adjoining state.

    “The same thing takes place in the Congress and we have to call it democracy,” quipped the Sena, a former BJP ally which now shares power with the Congress and the NCP in Maharashtra. With the sudden leadership change, the editorial claimed the “balloon’ of Gujarat’s model of development, governance and democracy has now burst.

    “Patel was not even made a minister in the last four years, but he was directly made the chief minister. If Gujarat was truly on path of progress, then why did the BJP change its chief minister overnight?” the Marathi daily sought to know.

    Amid the cacophony of ‘vikas’ (development), if leadership is suddenly changed, people raise doubts, it said. “Is this the Gujarat model where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will actually have to call the shots by keeping Patel at the forefront ahead of the state polls (due in December next year)?” the editorial asked.

    Patel is a staunch supporter of former Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel while Rupani had the backing of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and this would make the coming days “chaotic as well as interesting,” the publication said.

    “Replacing Rupani with Patel was a facile act. The BJP is convinced that it would face a backlash due to unemployment, closure of major factories, including carmaker Ford’s plant near Ahmedabad,” it said.

    Gujarat’s healthcare system “collapsed” during the second wave of COVID-19 and people are extremely angry over it, the editorial claimed, adding the closure of Ford plant has led to around 40,000 people losing their livelihood. “The Gujarat state government was staring helplessly at the dance of death during the second COVID-19 wave. Pyres were lit in every village and people were anguished,” the Sena publication said.

    “People who are not in limelight have been given key positions (by the BJP) , like the selection of Devendra Fadnavis as Maharashtra chief minister after the 2014 Assembly polls,” the editorial said. Patel represents Gujarat’s Patidar community, which is miffed with the BJP, it claimed.