BJP MLA BJP Bhupendra Patel has been chosen as the new chief minister of Gujarat and will be sworn in soon, said Union minister Narendra Tomar on Sunday.
“Bhupendra Patel was elected as the new leader of BJP legislative party," said Tomar.
MORE FROM THIS SECTION See All
Premium Premium Iran pledges to cooperate with UN atomic agency, easing ....
Premium Premium FBI makes public long-secret memo on 9/11 investigation
Premium Premium Raise sugarcane prices, double PM KISAN funds: Varun Ga ....
Premium Premium Banks should embrace digitisation to ensure govt scheme ....
Patel won the 2017 Gujarat Legislative Assembly elections from Ghatlodia constituency, defeating Congress candidate Shashikant Patel. He holds a diploma in civil engineering and is considered close to former CM Anandiben Patel, who won from the seat in 2012 polls.
The new leader will meet the governor and stake claim to form the government, reported news agency PTI.
His name was proposed by Vijay Rupani, who stepped down from the position on Saturday.
The high command of the Bharatiya Janata Party met during the day to finalise the name of a new CM.
BJP's central observers Pralhad Joshi and Narendra Singh Tomar were part of the meeting, which was held at the party office in Gandhinagar.
Apart from that, Union minister and BJP leader Mansukh Mandaviya, and Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat Nitin Patel, were also present.
TRENDING STORIES See All
Premium After 18 months, Wipro employees will return to office ....
Premium Two IPOs to open for subscription this week. Details here
Premium State Bank of India (SBI) customers need to do this by ....
Premium Delhi logs no Covid death, 22 new cases in 24 hrs; posi ....
BJP Gujarat president CR Patil, who took himself out of the race for CM on Saturday was also part of the meeting, along with Rupani.
There was talk that Praful Khoda Patel, administrator of the union territories of Lakshadweep and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu and Mandaviya were among the contenders.
Bhupendra Patel’s name was not in the long list of probables being discussed in state political circles and in a way the first term MLA emerged as the dark horse, a political observer said.
This comes even as assembly polls in the state are scheduled to take place in 2022.
After the decision was announced, Rupani said: “Bhupendra Patel is capable. We believe BJP will win the upcoming elections in the state under his leadership."
On 7 August 2016, Rupani took charge as the chief minister of Gujarat. He currently represents Gujarat's Rajkot West as MLA. In the 2017 state election, the BJP won 99 of the state's 182 Assembly seats, Congress got 77 seats.
Subscribe to Mint Newsletters
* Enter a valid email
* Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter.
Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!!