Vijay Rupani takes oath as new Chief Minister of Gujarat
AHMEDABAD: Mr Vijay Rupani has been sworn in as the 16th Chief Minister of Gujarat. Senior most cabinet minister in Anandiben Government, Nitin Patel has taken oath as the Deputy Chief Minister.Gujarat governor O.P. Kohli has administered the oath of post and secrecy to the Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel.
Senior BJP leaders have remained present during the swearing in ceremony. Party’s stalwart L.K.Advani, BJP President Amit Shah, Union Ministers Arun Jaitely, Thavarchand Gehlot, Chief Ministers of some BJP ruled States were remain present.
New Council of Ministers of Vijay Rupani Government has also taken oath simultaneously. Total 25 ministers have took oath today, out of which 9 Ministers have took oath as the cabinet Ministers, while 16 ministers have took oath as Minister of state. Former Finance Minister Saurabh Patel & social Justice Minister Ramanlal Vora in previous Anandiben Patel Government have been drop from the new council of ministers. It is expected that they will be given other responsibilities at center or in the party.
Now the strength of new council of Ministers has reached to 25 in comparison to 24 ministers in previous government.Our Ahmedabad correspondent reports that apart from caste and regional balance, the performance of individual ministers also considered in the formation of new council of ministers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated newly sworn in Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, and deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel.In a series of tweets, the Prime Minister said it is the beginning of their innings to continue the development journey of the state. He also applauded the dedicated service of former Chief Minister Anandiben Patel. Mr Modi said she has been working tirelessly for the people of Gujarat for many years.
Nine ministers from Anandiben Patel’s council – three cabinet and six junior ministers — were dropped. The key missing faces include Saurabh Patel, Raman Vora and the junior home minister Rajni Patel. Nine new ministers were inducted. The council now includes eight ministers from the Patidar community — a loyal support base that’s now angry with the BJP government for its handling of its demand for reservation in jobs and education.
Mr Rupani, 61, who is close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah, was named by the party as its candidate for the top post on Friday. Mr Patel, who till then was considered front-runner for the post, was named as the deputy chief minister.The decision was made during an hour-long stormy meeting — held before the legislators’ meet — between key BJP leaders of the state and party chief Amit Shah.
Sources said Anandiben Patel — who had announced her resignation on Facebook last week, saying she was deferring to BJP’s unwritten age bar — was rooting for Nitin Patel for the post.She had insisted that a Patel leader be picked ahead of assembly elections to placate the community.
But party chief Amit Shah had supported Mr Rupani, pointing out that his strong organisational skills were more needed ahead of elections. A large section of the party, he further said, supported Mr Rupani for the top post.
