With the Assembly elections in the offing, the Bharatiya Janta Party is reportedly considering replacing Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel. Sources have said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP Chief Amit Shah have crafted a strategy to make sure the party retains its monopoly in the home state.
It is known that the party leadership is exploring different options to replace Anandiben, who will complete two years as the CM on May 22. Sources in the party said “a big reshuffle in the government is expected” in the state, however, no details were shared. One of the main reasons to push the reshuffle is the protracted Patel agitation where the community sought quota in education and jobs. Allegations of the “growing influence of her children in the government” is also one of the reasons for the beginning of her alleged downfall. Party insiders in Delhi said, “The decision may be taken after May 19, following the Assembly poll results and also an Assembly by-election in Talala in Gujarat.”
Meanwhile, Anandiben and senior officials met with Modi in the Capital, to brief him on the drought situation in the State. Modi, after the meeting, tweeted, “Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and officials met me to discuss drought mitigation and water scarcity situation in parts of Gujarat. Was briefed about extensive efforts towards water conservation in Gujarat. Glad to see progress being made in micro irrigation.”
A report by BJP leader Om Mathur, who was tasked by the PM to assess the ground situation after the debacle in the local polls, had reportedly recommended “overhaul in the government and the State unit” before the Assembly elections. “It seems that Mathurji, who met local leaders, told the high command to make changes in the top, else the party may suffer in the Assembly polls as it did in the panchayat polls,” a BJP leader in Gujarat
