Gujarat getting new Chief Minister today

Gandhiangar: Shri Nitinbhai Ratilal Patel, senior most cabinet minister in Chief Minister Anandiben Patel led government for the departments of Health, Medical Education, Family Welfare, Road and Building and Capital Project is all set to be elected as new Chief Minister of Gujarat succeeding Smt Anandiben Patel.

Patel is all set to be elected as new Chief Minister by BJP MLAs at State party headquarters Kamalam in Gandhinagar at around 5.00 pm today in presence of Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Parshottam Rupala, Anandiben Patel, Vijay Rupani among others unanimously.

Easily approachable, down-to-earth, hard working, realist, cordial  and practical in nature and  media friendly Nitinbhai has already started giving interviews to news channels in Gandhinagar and in one of interviews he has accepted congratulations too by responding with ‘thank you’.

Nitin Patel was senior most minister in  Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet between 2012 and 2014. Anandiben Patel was second senior most minister after Nitinbhai Patel. However in 2014 when Narendrabhai left for Delhi to become Prime Minister, the party selected Anandiben Patel to succeed Narendrabhai and not Nitinbhai though he was most senior. Party thought that Anandiben would retire at 75 as per new criteria of retirement fixed by party and therefore she had only this chance to become Chief Minister. She was serving party since late 1980s. She had been minister handling various departments and she’s a woman. This chance to make a woman Chief Minister for less than half terms should not be missed, party thought. Nitin Patel though was senior most, he was around 60 and he could have chance to become Chief Minister later.

Now as Anandiben is approaching 75 and has submitted her resignation,  Nitinbhai is all set to become new Chief Minister.

This if happen can be called natural elevation Nitinbhai is  at present number two in Anandiben government.  Nitinbhai is one of few ministers in present Gujarat government who was elected as MLA as early as in 1990. Barring one electoral defeat in 2002 assembly elections and change of constituency once, he has been a constant winner in all assembly elections between 1990 and now. Nitinbhai belongs to Patel community from North Gujarat. He is presently MLA of Mahesana assembly constituency.

Born on 22 June 1956, 60-year-old Nitin Patel is commerce graduate. He is into cotton ginning/pressing and oil business. He has been associated with various educational institutes.

Nitin Patel started his political career with Navnirmal agitation and student activism.

He later became Councillor in municipality of small Kadi town near Ahmedabad in North Gujarat. He was municipality Councillor for twenty years.

He became president of Kadi municipality.

Nitin Patel was elected MLA in 8th Gujarat assembly in 1990.

He stayed as MLA for five years term till 1995 and reelected to assembly in 1995. He remained MLA in 9th assembly for two years till 1997.

He was appointed as minister of Health and Family Welfare in 9th assembly between 19 March 1995 and 20 October 1995 and later between 21 October 1995 and 18 September 1996.

He was reelected as MLA in 1998 and became member of Khaatari samiti, Jaaher Sahaso and Andaj Samiti.

In 10th Gujarat Assembly(1998-2002) he was made minister for Agriculture, Small and Medium Irrigation Projects department on 31st March 1998.

Between 16 May 1999 and 7 October 2001 he was given additional charge of ministry of Small and Medium Irrigation projects, Road and Building department(works under Panchayats).

Between 7 October 2001 and 22 December 2002 he was given additional charge of Finance and Revenue. When he was Finance Minister in year 2002, he was member of Government of India’s Empower Committee to implement Value Added Tax(VAT). Patel has two sons and wife in his family.

Patel was Urban Development, Water Supply, Water Resources minister between 2007 and 2012 in 12th assembly.

Nitinbhai was Finance, Health, Medical Education, Family Welfare and Transport minister in then Narendra Modi government in 2012.

DeshGujarat