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Tag: gujarat CM

  • Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel joins cleanliness drive at Dholeshwar Mahadev Temple

    Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel joins cleanliness drive at Dholeshwar Mahadev Temple

  • 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 elections: CM Patel, top state BJP leaders in Delhi to finalise candidates

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The process of deciding the panel of Bhartiya Janta Patry (BJP) candidates for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly election is complete. 

    On Monday night, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, State president CR Patil and other state organizational leaders reached Delhi to participate in a two-day central election committee meeting and parliamentary board meeting.

    The Central Parliamentary Board meeting is likely to be held in Delhi in the presence of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in which candidates will be finalised for Gujarat.

    Sources say that after this meeting the first phase of candidates is likely to be announced on Wednesday late night or Thursday morning.

    For the panel selection of BJP candidates, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah stayed in Gujarat for three consecutive days last week and finalized a panel of three names of candidates from the four zones of Gujarat, which include North Gujarat, Central Gujarat, South Gujarat, and Saurashtra Zone. The names have been submitted to the central parliamentary board.

    The process of filing nominations for 89 seats of South Gujarat, Saurashtra, and Kutch in the first phase of Gujarat polls has started. In these areas, the nomination form can be filled out till 14th November. For the second phase of elections, the process of filling out the nomination form will start from 10th November.

    Sources associated with the BJP say that the party may announce the names of the 182 candidates from Gujarat to be decided in the central parliamentary board meeting on Wednesday in four or more phases.

    A BJP leader, on the condition of anonymity, says that the names of more than 3500 candidates for 182 seats were discussed in the Gujarat Parliamentary Board meeting. Out of which more than 1500 names were scrutinized, from which three possible names per seat have been finalized and in some seats, a panel of five names was prepared.

    Sources are saying that the BJP will field new candidates in more than 50 seats this time. Among the new candidates, youth will be given priority. Not only that, with the aim of increasing women’s representation in the assembly this time, the BJP has included a female candidate per district in four cities namely Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot, and Surat.

    The BJP has decided to give tickets to more than a total of 36 women. 

    NEW DELHI: The process of deciding the panel of Bhartiya Janta Patry (BJP) candidates for the upcoming Gujarat Assembly election is complete. 

    On Monday night, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, State president CR Patil and other state organizational leaders reached Delhi to participate in a two-day central election committee meeting and parliamentary board meeting.

    The Central Parliamentary Board meeting is likely to be held in Delhi in the presence of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in which candidates will be finalised for Gujarat.

    Sources say that after this meeting the first phase of candidates is likely to be announced on Wednesday late night or Thursday morning.

    For the panel selection of BJP candidates, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah stayed in Gujarat for three consecutive days last week and finalized a panel of three names of candidates from the four zones of Gujarat, which include North Gujarat, Central Gujarat, South Gujarat, and Saurashtra Zone. The names have been submitted to the central parliamentary board.

    The process of filing nominations for 89 seats of South Gujarat, Saurashtra, and Kutch in the first phase of Gujarat polls has started. In these areas, the nomination form can be filled out till 14th November. For the second phase of elections, the process of filling out the nomination form will start from 10th November.

    Sources associated with the BJP say that the party may announce the names of the 182 candidates from Gujarat to be decided in the central parliamentary board meeting on Wednesday in four or more phases.

    A BJP leader, on the condition of anonymity, says that the names of more than 3500 candidates for 182 seats were discussed in the Gujarat Parliamentary Board meeting. Out of which more than 1500 names were scrutinized, from which three possible names per seat have been finalized and in some seats, a panel of five names was prepared.

    Sources are saying that the BJP will field new candidates in more than 50 seats this time. Among the new candidates, youth will be given priority. Not only that, with the aim of increasing women’s representation in the assembly this time, the BJP has included a female candidate per district in four cities namely Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot, and Surat.

    The BJP has decided to give tickets to more than a total of 36 women. 

  • Balasaheb had backed Narendra Modi amid demand for his ouster as Gujarat CM after Godhra riots: Uddhav Thackeray

    Uddhav Thackeray said a demand was being raised to remove Modi as Gujarat CM when BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister of the country.

  • PM Narendra Modi congratulates new Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday congratulated Bhupendra Patel on taking oath as Gujarat chief minister and expressed confidence that he will enrich the state’s growth trajectory. Noting that he has known Patel for years and has seen his “exemplary work”, be it in the BJP organisation or in civic administration and community service, Modi extended his wishes to him.

    Congratulations to Bhupendra Bhai on taking oath as CM of Gujarat. I have known him for years and have seen his exemplary work, be it in the BJP Organisation or in civic administration and community service. He will certainly enrich Gujarat’s growth trajectory. @Bhupendrapbjp
    — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 13, 2021
    He tweeted, “Congratulations to Bhupendra Bhai on taking oath as CM of Gujarat. I have known him for years and have seen his exemplary work, be it in the BJP Organisation or in civic administration and community service. He will certainly enrich Gujarat’s growth trajectory.”

    He also lauded Patel’s predecessor Vijay Rupani, saying he worked tirelessly for all sections of society. “During his five years as CM, Vijay Rupani Ji has undertaken many people-friendly measures. He worked tirelessly for all sections of society. I am certain he will continue to contribute to public service in the times to come,” Modi tweeted.

    First-term MLA Bhupendra Patel was on Monday sworn in as Gujarat chief minister after Rupani resigned over a year ahead of the Assembly polls.

  • Gujarat CM-designate Bhupendra Patel meets predecessor Vijay Rupani ahead of swearing-in ceremony

    By PTI

    AHNMEDABAD: Gujarat’s Chief Minister-designate Bhupendra Patel on Monday called on Vijay Rupani, who resigned from the top post last week, 15 months ahead of the state Assembly polls.

    Patel, who is scheduled to take oath as the next CM later in the day, met Rupani at the latter’s official residence in Gandhinagar in the morning and held discussions on various issues, a release issued by the state government said.

    After Rupani resigned on Saturday, Patel, who represents Ghatlodia Assembly seat in Ahmedabad, was unanimously elected as the BJP legislative party leader on Sunday. Before meeting Rupani, Bhupendra Patel met Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel at the latter’s residence in Ahmedabad.

    In the wake of incessant rains causing a flood-like situation in some parts of Jamnagar, Bhupendra Patel instructed the district authorities to make necessary arrangements to airlift about 35 people stranded in three villages, which have been inundated and cut off from other parts of the district, another government release said.

    According to Jamnagar district’s disaster management wing, the Indian Air Force has been requested to airlift people stranded in some of the villages of Kalavad and Jamnagar talukas.

  • Gujarat CM-designate Bhupendra Patel meets Nitin; Dy CM says he’s not upset with party’s decision

    By PTI

    AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel on Monday said he was not unhappy with the BJP’s decision to select Bhupendra Patel as the state’s next chief minister, soon after the CM-designate met him at his residence here in the morning.

    First-term MLA Bhupendra Patel (59) will be sworn in as the state’s 17th chief minister at 2.20 pm on Monday, an official said.

    Amid speculation that he was unhappy with Bhupendra Patel being chosen as the next CM, Nitin Patel, while addressing a gathering in his home turf Mehsana on Sunday, said he has seen many ups and downs, and asserted that nobody can “throw him out” as he lives in people’s heart.

    He missed the bus once again after 2016, when he was seen as the first choice for the top post before he was offered the post of deputy CM.

    ALSO READ | Amit Shah to attend swearing-in ceremony of new Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel

    Nitin Patel was seen as a top contender for the post before the party gave the opportunity to Bhupendra Patel.

    When reporters asked him on Monday if he was upset with the party’s decision to select Bhupendra Patel as the next CM, Patel said, “Not at all. All this is your (media’s) speculation…..You (media) keep (saying this) because this is your profession.”

    The BJP leader said he has been associated with the party from the Jana Sangh days since he was 18 years old, and asserted that he will continue to remain with the party.

    “Whether I get any position or not is not a big deal for me. What matters is people’s love and respect. We are all brothers and sisters. Whoever has been selected as the next CM is one of our own, and we will continue to work together,” Nitin Patel said, adding that he continues to remain a BJP worker, as the position is not important for him.

    Bhupendra Patel called on the deputy chief minister at his residence on Monday morning.

    Talking to reporters after the meeting, Nitin Patel said the CM-designate and he are friends and they share family relations.

    He said he has known Bhupendra Patel since long and had even inaugurated his MLA office in Ghatlodia (Ahmedabad) after he won from that Assembly constituency.

    “The party has given me big positions. I am ready to do whatever is required from me for the party, my community, party workers, or anybody in Gujarat,” said Nitin Patel.

    On Sunday, hours after the ruling BJP selected Bhupendra Patel as the new chief minister of Gujarat, Nitin Patel, while addressing a gathering during a function in Mehsana town, said in a lighter vein that he was not the only one who had missed the bus as there were “many others” like him.

    Asked whether his statement made on Sunday meant he was unhappy over not being made the chief minister, the DyCM on Monday said politicians are required to first find a place in the hearts of people.

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    “Even if a man is a sarpanch of a small village or a big personality, he gets the support only when he finds a place in the hearts of the people. We give 182 tickets for (election as) MLAs and thousands of tickets in municipality elections, but not all win the election. For a man to achieve greatness, what is required is his connection with the party, party workers and people of his area. What I said is that a man remains big as long as he finds a place in the hearts of people,” the BJP leader said.

    The MLA from Mehsana further said he served a legislator for six terms because of the blessings of people and party workers.

    “It is our culture to pay the debt of all those who support us. This is what I said,” he added.

    Lauding the BJP, Nitin Patel said he cannot describe in words what the party has done for him and “there is no such pain in my heart” as speculated by the media.

    “We have denied tickets to many MPs, MLAs, we have taken such decisions, because not everybody can get the position. As the party’s senior worker, I accept what the party has decided for the future. My actions will teach thousands (about dedication to the party),” he said.

    On a philosophical note, the deputy chief minister said “the party, leadership, God and fate all work as per their time”.

    “The party has given me positions in cabinet several times, made me the deputy chief minister, given me the important responsibilities of finance and Narmada (departments). I am happy that I have worked as a cabinet minister in the governments led by senior leaders like Keshubhai Patel, Narendra Modi, Anandiben Patel, and am a part of the party’s parliamentary board. I have received a lot from the party, and there is nothing I need to comment,” he said.

    On his meeting with Bhupendra Patel at his residence, he said the CM-designate is his old friend, even since he was the chairman of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s standing committee.

    He said their families are invited to each other’s places during social events.

    The DyCM also said he offered his best wishes to Bhupendra Patel on Sunday, soon after his name was announced for the top post.

    He said he had to then leave for Mehsana for an event, where around 2,000 people in the gathering greeted Bhupendra Patel with a standing ovation when he asked them to do so and offered their best wishes to the CM-designate.

    “He visited my house to meet me. I greeted him….I am there to offer any help that he requires from me,” Nitin Patel added.

  • Amit Shah to attend swearing-in ceremony of new Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend the swearing-in ceremony of BJP leader Bhupendra Patel as Gujarat’s new Chief Minister on Monday afternoon, sources said.

    The ceremony is expected to take place around 3 p.m. Patel would be the 17th Chief Minister of Gujarat.

    Patel, Member of Legislative Assembly from Gujarat’s Ghatlodia constituency, was announced as the new Chief Minister of Gujarat on Sunday by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The decision to appoint Patel as the new Gujarat Chief Minister was taken in the legislative meeting called by the BJP in the Gujarat party headquarters, Gandhinagar.

    It is also learnt that a meeting is also scheduled after the oath-taking ceremony to revamp the Gujarat cabinet. The meeting, sources said, will be held in presence of Amit Shah, Bhupendra Patel and other senior BJP leaders including CR Patil and Bhupendra Yadav.

    ALSO READ | Patidar factor and spotless image: Bhupendra Patel to take oath as Gujarat Chief Minister

    The Union Home Minister on Sunday took Twitter to congratulate Bhupendra Patel on being elected as the new Chief Minister of Gujarat.

    “Under your guidance and leadership, the state’s continuous development journey will get new energy and momentum and Gujarat will continue to be a leader in good governance and public welfare,” Amit Shah tweeted.

    Gujarat Chief Minister-designate, Bhupendra Patel, expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Shah, BJP president JP Nadda and his predecessor Vijay Rupani for reposing faith in him, and said he would take the development journey of the state forward.

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  • Greenhorn Bhupendra Patel to be 17th chief minister of Gujarat

    Express News Service

    Forget the short list, he was not even on the speculated long list to become outgoing chief minister Vijay Rupani’s successor. The BJP on Sunday pulled a rabbit out of the hat by giving the chief ministerial baton to political greenhorn Bhupendra Patel, a first-term MLA with  no ministerial experience. 

    Seen as a protégé of UP Governor Anandiben Patel, he represents her Ghatlodia seat in the Assembly. Patel, 59, later met Governor Acharya Devvrat along with Rupani to take stake his claim for the hot seat. He is also associated with a couple of Patidar outfits as well. A civil engineer by qualification and builder by profession, he will take the oath of office and secrecy on Monday. 

    The soft-spoken, low profile Patel will now lead the state BJP to polls in 2022. “The selection of Bhupendra Patel is a master stroke of Anandiben Patel. The BJP has killed many birds with one stone. It is also to checkmate Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel because both come from the same region and are Kadva Patels, a sub-caste of the Patel community,” said senior journalist based in Gujarat, adding it will also possibly end Patidar agitations in the state.

    ​ALSO READ | Patidar factor and spotless image: Bhupendra Patel to take oath as Gujarat Chief Minister

    After Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Pralhad Joshi flew in from Delhi as observers, they held a series of meetings with senior party functionaries. The matter was first discussed in the core committee meeting before it was taken up at the BJP legislature party meeting. 

    The proposal to elevate Bhupendra Patel was moved by Rupani, after which almost all lawmakers fell in line.  Most of the 112 MLAs of the party in the 182-member Assembly were present at the meeting. However, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, who was in the race for chief ministership, left the meeting without making any statement, while BJP’s state unit president C R Paatil had earlier said he was not a contender for the top post. 

    In Uttarakhand too, the BJP  chose Pushkar Singh Dhami as chief minister though he had no ministerial experience. Patel will be the first-ever CM from Ahmadabad. He won the 2017 Assembly elections from Ghatlodia, defeating Congress candidate Shashikant Patel by a margin of over one lakh votes, the highest winning margin in that election. His Assembly constituency is part of the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat represented by Union minister Amit Shah.

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  • AAP ‘forced’ BJP to change chief ministers in Uttarakhand, Gujarat: Raghav Chadha

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Delhi MLA Raghav Chadha on Sunday claimed that the BJP was “forced” to change chief ministers in Uttarakhand and Gujarat after facing a challenge from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the two states.

    The AAP national spokesperson also criticised the Congress while terming it an “ineffective, compromised and unsuccessful opposition”.

    “The AAP challenged the BJP by saying ‘perform or perish’, which forced the BJP to change its CMs in both the states.

    Such is the power of the AAP and Shri Arvind Kejriwal.

    I want to tell the people of the BJP that changing nameplates will not change the anger and resentment that the people of Uttarakhand and Gujarat have for you,” Chadha said during a press conference here.

    ALSO READ | First-time MLA Bhupendra Patel rises through ranks to become next Gujarat chief minister

    He added that a “convenient game of musical chairs” was being played by the BJP and the Congress in which they rule for five years each.

    “When one party is in power, the other helps from outside and upon a power switch, they return the favour.

    There is an understanding in these parties, which has resulted in Uttarakhand and Gujarat both, being devoid of a strong opposition and a strong government,” he said.

    Talking about the Surat municipal polls, held earlier this year, Chadha remarked that the BJP was getting its “power circles challenged” by the AAP.

    “Gujarat is a stronghold state of the BJP, the state from where the two most powerful politicians of the country come from, the state where the BJP has been ruling for 27 years is now getting its power circles challenged by the Aam Aadmi Party,” the Rajendra Nagar MLA said.

    He added that in Uttarakhand and Gujarat, “for every person who does not want to vote for the BJP, there are even more who don’t want to vote for the Congress”.

    “Due to this, there is a huge vacuum, which the AAP has successfully filled,” he claimed.