Ahmadabad: In an unexpected move ahead of an Assembly election in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has resigned. He has tendered his resignation to Gujarat Governor Acharya Devvrat at his residence, Raj Bhavan in Gandhinagar on Saturday.
The BJP leader confirmed that he has resigned from the top post. It is unclear at this time what precipitated Rupani's resignation where elections to the 182-member Assembly are due in December next year.
He also thanked PM Modi and the party for giving him an opportunity to work for five years before media at Raj Bhavan after meeting Governor and submitting his resignation letter.
"In BJP, there has been a tradition that responsibilities of party workers change from time to time. I will be ready to take whatever responsibility that the party will give me in the future", Rupani said..
Asked about reasons for his resignation, Rupani said, In BJP, it is like a relay race for party workers. One gives the baton to the other. On who will be the next chief minister, Rupani said that the party will decide about it.
He denied that he had any differences with state BJP president C R Paatil.
"I am just a worker of the organisation and will continue to be so. For the upcoming state Assembly elections, definitely our PM Modi will be the face," Rupani said, when asked who will be the face for the elections, as he and the party earlier had declared that the 2022 elections will be led by him.
"I will accept whatever responsibility the party gives me," Rupani quoted as saying.
Quoting sources a NDTV report says that Mansukh Mandaviya, who was sworn in as the Union Health Minister in July or Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel might be possible replacements for Mr Rupani. According to sources, the suitable replacement for Rupani will be declared by Sunday.
Meanwhile, reacting to the development, the Congress alleged that Rupani was removed because the state government failed to perform during Covid and provide relief to the public. Bharat Singh Solanki, former Union Minister and Congress leader also demanded to remove Nitin Patel as deputy CM as he has also failed to work in the interest of the people
The Congress leader alleged the move as a face saving exercise by the BJP to divert people's attention and focus on the Prime Minister. The party also accused that BJP cannot afford to contest elections on the basis of the performance of the state government.
Solanki said, "now Congress has the challenge and opportunity to become a viable option in the eyes of the public."
However when asked if the Congress house is in order in Gujarat, Solanki said that the Congress is going to appoint the state In charge and State President this month only.
The Congress leaders say that the BJP won the Municipal elections because of other factors and will not be able to win the assembly polls whether they change the captain or not.
Rupani, who is representing Rajkot West in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly comes from the Jain community which has around two per cent population in the state. There is speculation that his successor may be from the patidar community.
He first became the chief minister on August 7, 2016, following the resignation of incumbent Anandiben Patel, and continued in the office after the BJP's victory in the 2017 Assembly elections. He completed five years in office on August 7 this year and was present at the inauguration on Saturday of Sardardham Bhavan where Modi was present virtually.
He is the fourth BJP chief minister to step down in recent months; in July BS Yediyurappa resigned as Chief Minister of Karnataka in July and the double whammy in Uttarakhand, where Tirath Singh Rawat quit barely four months after replacing Trivendra Rawat.