Nitin Patel denies knowledge on change of guard amid heightened speculations

Correspondents, New Delhi/Gandhinagar

Amid hectic parleys and the renewed speculations about change of guard in Gujarat, Health Minister of the state Nitin Patel, who is being named as the said front runner as Mrs. Anandiben Patel’s possible replacement as Chief Minister, today said that he was not aware of any such development.

Mr. Patel, who was reportedly made to return from the airport here to meet BJP national president Amitbhai Shah, told reporters that he went to meet Amitbhai (Mr Shah) as he was a senior party colleague from Gujarat.

Parrying volley of questions regarding possible change of guard in the state Mr Patel said that he was not aware of it. Though he wore a mysterious smile as well.

He preferred to answer question related to his meeting with the union health minister J P Nadda regarding NEET exam.

Earlier in the day Chief Minister Mrs, Anandiben Patel who also was in New Delhi, had a pre scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on water scarcity situation.

However, with her extended meeting with the PM and some change in her itinerary and meeting between Gujarat BJP leaders and Mr.Shah, strong speculations regarding change of guard in the state started doing the rounds. It is being said that She would be sent to Punjab as governor paving way for Mr. Nitin Patel’s anointment to the post of CM in Gujarat.

Her alleged failure to tackle the Patidar reservation agitation is being termed as a reason to the possible change in the leadership. Some other names apart from Mr. Patel as Mrs. Patel’s possible replacement doing the rounds include state BJP president Vijay Rupani and national BJP vice president Pursushottam Rupala, Education Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama.

Meanwhile, BJP state unit spokesperson Bharat Pandya has termed the speculations as mere rumours.

– DeshGujarat