Ahead of taking oath as Cabinet Minister, Mangubhai Patel resigns fromt he post of Deputy Speaker


Gandhinagar, 19 November 2014


Ahead of his elevation as Cabinet minister, southern Gujarat MLA Mangubhai Patel has resigned from the post of Deputy Speaker.

Mangubhai has served as Minister of State and even Cabinet Minister in the past.

He will be inducted as Cabinet Minister in Chief Minister Anandiben Patel ministry today. Oath taking has been scheduled at 11.00 am.

Speaking to media persons after submitting his resignation at Gujarat Assembly Speaker Ganpat Vasava’s bungalow, Mangubhai Patel said he was informed about his induction yesterday evening. He said as per the party’s order he has resigned as Deputy Speaker ahead of oath taking ceremony today. He said he likes to work for poor and small people.

Mangubhai is senior tribal MLA from south Gujarat.

Recently Ganpatbhai Vasava, other tribal MLA from south Gujarat was shifted from Anandiben Cabinet to the post of Speaker of Gujarat Assembly. Ganpatbhai was Cabinet Minister holding portfolio of Tribal development.

Tribals form 15% population of Gujarat, and there has been practice to have at least one tribal MLA as Cabinet Minister. With Ganpatbhai becoming Speaker, someone from Tribal community had to be inducted to Cabinet, importantly because Tribal Development portfolio could be handed over to someone from Tribal community.

As Deputy Speaker Mangubhai Patel is senior MLA belonging to Tribal community, as he has been minister in the past too, he was chosen for the job.

Shifting Mangubhai from the post of Deputy Speaker to Cabinet was also a logical step because recently when another Tribal MLA was made Speaker, both posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker were with Tribal community.

Ganpatbhai was also holding portfolios of Forest and Environment and Legislative and Parliamentary affairs.

There has been a tradition to give Forest and Environment portfolio to Tribal MLA. As Mangubhai has been Deputy Speaker, he has good exposure of Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs too. In this term, he could be 100% replacement for Ganpat Vasava in cabinet. However allotment of portfolios will be made in cabinet meeting scheduled later today.

Mangubhai was made Deputy Speaker on October 2013. In April 2013 he was made Vice President of Gujarat BJP. In May 2013 he was made BJP’s national Schedule Tribe(ST) Morcha’s national executive member. Mangubhai was part of the 86-member campaign committee for Gujarat assembly elections 2012. He contested and won Gandevi seat, reserved for ST. He was minister of Tribal Welfare, Forest and Environment of Gujarat under Narendra Modi as Chief Minister in past.