New Gujarat CM: BJP In Huddle To Deliberate Over New Chief Minister, Know Who Are Top-Runners

Vijay Rupani Resigned: With Rupani's resignation in Gujarat, speculations have started rife on the new chief minister's face. There are some names, which are in the list.

(File Photos)

Gandhinagar: Vijay Rupani on Saturday resigned as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. Rupani has submitted his resignation to Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat. With Rupani's resignation, speculations have started over the new Chief Minister of the state. 

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for a legislature party meeting to discuss the new Chief Minister and the new leader of the legislature party will be elected in the meeting.

Many names are doing rounds for the new Chief Minister of Gujarat.

Newly-appointed Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, who is said to be in the good books of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is one of top contenders for the CM post. 

Parshottam Rupala, a Rajya Sabha MP whose term is due to end in 4 months and a well-known leader in the Patidar community is also said to be the race. Rupala is also the Minister of state for Agriculture and Farmers’ welfare and was Gujarat BJP President.

Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat Nitin Ratilal Patel is also one of the front-runners for the CM post. Patel has been the cabinet Minister for Health, Medical Education, Family Welfare, Road and Building. He has also handled other portfolios such as water supply, Water Resources, Urban Development and Urban Housing.

Lok Sabha MP from Navsari and Gujarat BJP Chief Chandrakant Raghunath Patil is also said to be one of the contenders for the post. Patil will address media shortly.

Union Minister BL Santhosh and Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav as well as state president CR Patil have chaired a meeting at the BJP headquarters in Gandhinagar. After this meeting, the time and date of the legislature party meeting will be finalised.

"After discharging my responsibility as chief minister, now I have resigned as chief minister and also expressed my desire to work with new energy in the party. I will definitely continue to work under the guidance of the Hon'ble National President under the leadership of the Prime Minister with full responsibility and new energy for the responsibility I will get from the party," Rupani said after his resignation. 

Rupani also said that it has been the tradition of the BJP that the responsibilities of the workers keep changing over time. He said that it is the specialty of our party that the responsibility given by the party, party workers take charge of it with full devotion.