By Japan K Pathak

Anandiben Patel has completed one year as Chief Minister of Gujarat.

Looking at its overall performance during the last one year, the present government seems like the continuance, or an extension of earlier Narendra Modi-led government, with pink tint.

Before Narendra Modi stepped down from the post of Chief Minister of Gujarat, he had said in his farewell speech (link) , “My success is not in existing development of Gujarat, my success lies in speedy development of Gujarat after I leave.” Later in January this year, in his speech at Mahatma Mandir in Gandhinagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled this statement and said Gujarat was progressing even better under Anandiben Patel.

Few things to consider here in this connection.

First thing. Narendra Modi is very much there. If not in Gandhinagar, he is few miles away in Delhi. Yes he is in new role, but he is approachable when present government in Gujarat needs his guidance. In one of her recent TV interviews, Anandiben has said, “we can not rush to his office to seek guidance like we used to when he was Chief Minister here, but we do seek his guidance over phone call when we need.”

Secondly, the ministers groomed and mentored by Narendrabhai, form key portion of Anandiben government. Anandiben worked in year 2001 version of Narendra Modi government on position 6, in 2002 on position 5, in 2007 on position 3 and in 2012 again on position 3 in cabinet holding various portfolios. Nitinbhai worked in year 2001, 2007 and 2012 versions of Narendra Modi government. Saurabh Patel is another minister groomed and mentored by Modi. Mangubhai was picked up as minister by Modi in 2007. Bokhiria was picked up as minister by Modi as early as in 2001. Barring Nitinbhai and Bhupendrasinh Chudasama who had become ministers in 1990s in Chimanbhai Patel and Keshubhai Patel led governments, the other key ministers in Anandiben government are purely from Modi era or say Modi school. They are all aware, about Saheb’s approach.

Third point. Anandiben was made Chief Minister on 22nd May, and on 2nd June, GC Murmu(IAS) was made Principal Secretary to Chief Minister with the effect from 22nd May. Similarly K.Kailashnathan(IAS) was made Principal Chief Secretary, again in Chief Minister’s Office(CMO). Kailashnathan was like a shadow of Narendra Modi in Gandhinagar when Modi was Chief Minister. In almost every meeting between Modi and foreign diplomat or prospective investor, Kailashnathan would be sitting there, while Murmu was man of execution for Modi. Then there was Adhia in Finance department and many other officers familiar with Moditva or Modi style of functioning, Modi’s likes and dislikes. Adhia was shifted to centre in November 2014 by Modi. He was with Anandiben during May-October period. Murmu was shifted to centre recently in April. He was with Anandiben during May-April. Retired IAS Kailashnathan is very much there in CMO with fresh extension. Then there are Pandian, Gupta, Taneja and others – all known as Modi’s men. They are all there in Gandhinagar and very much part of guiding, decision making and implementing process in sync with the present Chief Minister and her team.

Vibrant Gujarat Summit, Krushi Mahotsav, Garib Kalyan Mela, Vanthambhi Vikas yatra, school enrollment drive, Vibrant Navratri, regular announcements of new universities, regular announcements of new policies, SAUNI yojana, water supply schemes – everything initiated by Modi government is continuing under Anandiben government. Even if there’s some addition, it’s an extension of something that was initiated or conceived during the earlier Modi government. Say for example, the Modi government was holding Krushi Mahotsav only for Kharif(monsoon) season, but Anandiben government extended the programme to Rabi(winter) season. While Rabi Krushi Mahotsav is something new that Anandiben has brought in, it’s still an extension of Modi’s Krushi Mahotsav programme. Similarly, the starting of Ahmedabad Metro rail project work or construction of Shreshtha Bharat Bhawan or ongoing Statue of Unity project or expansion of existing irrigation, water supply, healthcare and welfare schemes – all is in continuance of the Narendra Modi government, or say extension. Then most of the public projects that were inaugurated in last one year by Chief Minister Anandiben Patel were actually initiated or conceived during the Narendra Modi government. And it is obvious. One can’t expect Keshubhai Patel government to continue the flavor of past governments led by Chimanbhai Patel, Chhabildas Maheta, Shankersinh Vaghela or Dilip Parikh. When Narendra Modi came to power, the first thing he did was punishment transfers of all top IAS officers who were part of Keshubhai’s core team. Keshubhai’s top scheme ‘Gokul Gram Yojana’ was also discontinued. Continuance was not expected in these cases. But here in present case, Smt Anandiben Patel has been brought to power by Narendrabhai himself, and Narendrabhai is still very much a focal point of politics of Gujarat, India and ruling BJP. So he is very much there at top, and therefore a new Chief Minister replacing him is just continuing the ‘extension’ government.

Pink in color

And the extension part is pink in color.

If you observe, a boy child would like to play with toy guns, cricket ball and cars, while a girl child would prefer to play with kitchen set, soft toys and dolls. A woman would like a song for its lyrics, while a man would like some song for its beats, melody and music. Men and women think differently.

Modi’s government was macho in its approach while Anandiben government is womanish. And therefore I call this extension of Modi government as pink extension.

Some known and unknown examples of pink decisions: 33% reservation for women in government jobs, gender budget with as many as 100 exclusive schemes for women in budget(Rs 2,000 crore allocation), initiatives like welcome on stage with fruits and not flowers, relaxation of rules for recruitment of women in police force, more weightage to social and health sector, aggressive campaign for construction of toilets for safety and health of women which Anandiben describes as her one of five major successes as according to her construction of toilet in each home will be soon completed in all municipal corporation and municipality areas, and it will be completed in all villages in next two years, strict ban on liquor that has created a situation where liquor is unavailable in parts of Ahmedabad, and price of Royal Stag(popular brand of whiskey here) has gone up by double…..

(Will write another article in this series:Author )