Gandhinagar: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who was one of the the two central observers of the party for the BJP state legislature party meet convened here today for the selection of the successor of the outgoing Chief Minister Mrs. Anandiben Patel, said that the name of Mr Vijay Rupani as the leader emerged ‘unanimously’ following a democratic process which also involved Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Addressing a press conference Mr Gadkari said that Mr Rupani’s name was proposed by Mrs Patel herself after due process during which the opinions of senior leaders including Mrs Anandiben Patel, MLAs, MPs were taken. The Prime Minister was also briefed about it. It was completely unanimous and done in democratic manner.

To a query regarding the last minute ‘twist’ in the selection as the name of Health minister Nitin Patel had emerged as the strongest contender who finally ended up as Deputy Chief Minister, Mr Gadkari said that it was right that Mr Rupani himself had earlier said that he would like to work for the organization but the final decision was taken on the basis of the due democratic procedure of the party.

It should be mentioned here that two days back Vijay Rupani had voluntarily gave a statement before media that he was happy in BJP organization and was not contender to become Chief Minister. It was after Rupani’s this Suo Moto statement, that media started discussing the name of Nitin Patel as probable candidate.

In a lighter vein Gadkari said that at time media’s guess works and at times it did not. And this time round (in case of selection of the successor of the CM) it did not.

He said that Nitin Patel’s name as the Deputy Chief Minister was also proposed by Mrs Patel and was approved by the party.

To a query he said that making deputy CM was not new to the BJP. He said that the discussion over the successor lasted for two days but the decision was unanimous.

‘I got the name (of Rupani) and Mrs Patel also proposed his name,’ he said amid volley of question from newsmen regarding the said last minute twist.

He said that now the party organization and the government will work together in the view of next year’s assembly election. The name of the new party president would also be decided soon.

DeshGujarat