​ First-term MLA Bhupendra Patel took oath as 17th Chief Minister of Gujarat on Monday, after Vijay Rupani’s surprise exit from the post. Patel, unanimously elected BJP legislature party leader, was sworn in as the state’s 17th Chief Minister by Governor Acharya Devvrat at a simple ceremony.
When BJP legislator Bhupendra Patel took oath as the new Gujarat chief minister on September 11, he became the fifth politician from the Patidar community to occupy the top post since the state’s formation in1960, indicating the clout wielded by the influential social group. Gujarat has had five Patel chief ministers out of 17 since the state formed 61 years ago.
Bhupendra Patel, the ruling BJP’s surprise pick for the top job, has taken charge when just over a year is left for assembly polls in Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
He is the first-time MLA from Ghatlodia in Ahmedabad. His elevation, seen as an attempt by the BJP to woo the Patidars ahead of the 2022 polls and retain its grip on Gujarat, which has been under the saffron rule for more than two decades.
Before Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat saw Anandiben Patel, Keshubhai Patel, Babubhai Patel, and Chimanbhai Patel as chief ministers belonging to the Patidar or Patel community. Most of the other Chief Ministers were from the OBC community, like Modi and Madhavsinh Solanki.
Late Chimanbhai Patel, a congressman, was the first Patidar chief minister of Gujarat. He assumed the office for the first time in July 1973. He resigned in February 1974 as a fallout of ‘Navnirman Andolan,’ an agitation started by college students against a hike in the hostel food bill.
Chimanbhai Patel once again became the CM in October 1990 and remained in office till his death in February 1994. Late Babubhai Jasbhai Patel, a Janata Morcha, and Janata Party leader, also held the CM’s post twice. His first term was between June 1975 and March 1976.
He assumed office again from April 1977 to February 1980. Late Keshubhai Patel was the first BJP Chief Minister of Gujarat, and he accepted the office in March 1995 after the BJP gained a decisive majority in the Assembly polls.
However, Keshubhai Patel resigned seven months later as his party colleague Shankersinh Vaghela, who wanted to be the CM after BJP’s victory, revolted against him.
The BJP, led by Keshubhai Patel, returned to power in the 1998 assembly elections, and he once again became the chief minister. However, he resigned prematurely in October 2001, citing poor health, paving the way for Modi, who held the CM’s post till 2014.
After Modi left Gujarat in May 2014 to take over as the Prime Minister, the BJP handed over the reins of Gujarat to Anandiben Patel, who contested from the Ghatlodia Assembly seat of Ahmedabad.
History of the Leader
Patel’s elevation – the first from the Patidar sub-group to be a chief minister – is key to BJP’s plans to woo the Kadva Patidar community, which some political observers feel, has drifted away from the party.
He is a trustee of Sardardham, the Patidar community organization that hosted the program where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief guest on Saturday.
Born in Ahmedabad, Patel is an MLA from the Ghatlodia seat, previously held by the former chief minister and now Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel. He won the seat by over 1.17 lakh votes in 2017, the highest margin in that poll.
Ghatlodia is part of the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency represented by Shah.
Patel, who holds a diploma in civil engineering, has served as Ahmedabad municipal councilor and as the Standing Committee of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority.
He is also a trustee at the Patidar organization Vishwa Umiya Foundation.
Patel had never held a ministerial post, just like Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was never a minister when he became Gujarat CM 20 years ago. Modi was sworn in as CM on October 7, 2001, and became an MLA on February 24, 2002, by winning the Rajkot seat bypoll.
Patel is considered close to former Gujarat chief minister and presents Uttar Pradesh, Governor Anandiben Patel. His Assembly constituency is part of the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat represented by Shah.
The BJP’s CM choice came as a surprise for many as the low-profile, first-time legislator was not among the top contenders for the post. Gujarat BJP chief C R Patil said Patel’s work at the grass-root level, his hold on the cooperative sector, association with party workers, and administrative abilities were among the factors that led to his elevation.
