Gujarat Deputy CM Nitin Patel gets Finance Ministry portfolio

The entire episode caused a political storm in the state as Patidar leader Hardik Patel linked it with the honour of Patel community

Image Courtesy: PTI/ File

New Delhi:  The brewing crisis in Gujarat government settled as Gujarat's Deputy CM Nitin Patel was allotted the finance ministry portfolio on Sunday.

Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel gets finance ministry portfolio. #Gujarat

— ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2017

This happened after BJP president Amit Shah today reached out to the Deputy Chief Minister, who had delayed taking charge over not getting portfolios of his choice in the new Cabinet. Patel said "Shah asked me to take charge of my departments, so I will take the charge today. Chief minister Vijay Rupani will meet state Governor O P Kohli in afternoon and give a letter allocating a new department to me,". The finance portfolio was initially assigned to Saurabh Patel. Also read: PM Modi says Muslim women have broken triple talaq shackles Earlier in the day, Patel had said “I have been assured that I will be given suitable departments, I also talked to Amit Shah ji over the phone. I thank him for the assurance,”. In the previous government, Patel held both Finance and Urban Development departments. The entire episode caused a political storm in the state as Patidar leader Hardik Patel linked it with the honour of Patel community. Hardik said that the community leaders must understand that Nitin Patel was sidelined despite serving for 27 years in BJP.