BJP on Thursday announced that there will be no deputy chief minister in the Bhupendra Patel-led Gujarat administration, ultimately putting an end to Nitin Patel's cabinet plans.
The heavyweight Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader had served as deputy Gujarat chief minister in the Vijay Rupani government.
Bhupendra Patel was given a 24-member Council of Ministers whose nominations had been approved by the BJP's top leadership. Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat administered an oath
to the ministers, including 10 cabinet members.
Nitin Patel and Bhupendrasinh Chudasama were among the big names that were left out. Where Chudasama was the education minister in the Rupani cabinet, Nitin Patel has been the state's
deputy chief minister since August 2016, making him the state's longest-serving official. Nobody was named deputy chief minister at the cabinet swearing-in ceremony and portfolio distributions on Thursday.
Nitin Patel was dropped from Bhupendra Patel's cabinet only days after the former deputy chief minister's comment, "No one can throw me out," made headlines. Nitin
Patel made the remark humorously while speaking to a crowd in Mehsana, his hometown and constituency.
“When I came here, there were a lot of things on TV,” Nitin Patel remarked. "I want to tell you that till I am in the hearts of my people, voters and party workers,
no one can throw me out.”
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Why did BJP snub Patel?
Nitin Patel has been ‘ignored’ for Gujarat CM’s post for the third time in a row since Narendra Modi moved on in 2014 to become the prime minister. However, with teary
eyes, Patel said that he’s “not upset”. “I have been working in BJP since I was 18 and will keep on working. Whether I get a position in the party or not, I will continue serving in the party,”
he added.
Interestingly, Nitin Patel and Bhupendra Patel are from the same Kadva Patel sub-caste in Gujarat's prominent and politically significant Patidar community. However, according to
several media reports, Nitin Patel lost the race to the chief minister’s post to Bhupendra for not having a deeper association with the Patel community.
Bhupendra Patel has two major advantages over Nitin Patel.
One- his image as a protégé of former Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, whose resignation in 2016 in favour of Vijay Rupani, a Jain, was seen as a slap in the face
by the Patel-Patidar community.
Second- he has less experience in state politics and hence has a lower stake in factional politics. Being a trustee of the Sardardham Vishwa Patidar Kendra and having closer relationships
with the Patel community as a whole were further bonuses. The trust has a lot of leverage with the Kadva Patels.
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Ignoring ex-deputy CM could increase difficulties for BJP?
Just days ago Nitin remarked that “When I came here, there were a lot of things on TV. I want to tell you that till I am in the hearts of my people, voters and party workers, no
one can throw me out.”
Even though after this statement the events took an ironic turn, his remarks are not completely wrong as he does live in “the hearts of people, voters and party workers.”
The former Deputy CM has said that he “will continue serving in the party”. But if he chooses to leave BJP, it would be a huge setback for the party in the state as well
as national level.