JOIN USAnandiben Patel's decision to quit as Gujarat chief minister through a Facebook post was unprecedented. It also brought to close a six-month-long campaign against her leadership within the BJP that had its national president Amit Shah in direct line of fire with her.
Party leaders openly acknowledged that Anandiben managed to fend off Shah’s plans because of support from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The last few days saw invisible BJP pressure on her reach a new level. A Dalit agitation across Gujarat on the issue of skinning a cow had left her position indefensible. Her aides said this was the "last straw" for her.
She decided to quit, citing her age (she will be turning 75 in November) and asking the BJP to go with a younger face for the 2017 polls.
Seven months ago, Anandiben had responded negatively when Modi had himself sounded her on taking up a gubernatorial assignment. She had, instead, sought the Modi’s support to complete her term. She suggested that the BJP could project a chief ministerial candidate for the 2017 polls. As a Gujarat BJP leader put it, Anandiben had thrown a gauntlet at Shah to try and succeed her in Gujarat at this juncture in pursuit of his ambition.
The big question that arises before Modi is whether he can spare Shah from the central role, particularly when he is preparing the BJP for the “do-or-die” elections in Uttar Pradesh. For many BJP leaders, it is inconceivable that she would have made the announcement on the social media without the Modi’s approval or intimating Shah, who, in fact, announced that he had got her letter.
Party insiders say, for Shah too, the present moment is very crucial. “If Shah wishes to go back as Gujarat chief minister, now is the best time. The future may not be in his hands,” said a senior BJP functionary.
However, the final call on Shah's future will be taken by the prime minister, BJP insiders said. Anandiben was made the chief minister by Modi after he shifted to Delhi in May 2014.
BJP to select Anandiben’s replacement
Hours after Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel announced on Facebook her offer to quit, BJP president Amit Shah said the party’s parliamentary board will decide on her replacement, DHNS reports from New Delhi.
“I have received Anandiben Patel ji’s letter. Her letter will now be kept before the BJP parliamentary board for further decision,” Shah said.
The final call on Patel’s replacement would be taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said BJP sources. The parliamentary board is slated to meet on Tuesday at party’s Ashoka Road office to stamp Modi’s choice.
Though her resignation was in the offing for long since the top BJP leadership was not happy over her inability to control Patel and Dalit agitations, Shah said she cited her growing age for calling it a day. She will turn 75 in November – an undeclared upper age limit Prime Minister Narendra Modi had set for leaders to continue in office.
Union minister Najma Heptulla and two Madhya Pradesh ministers — Babulal Gaur and Sartaj Singh — had to resign because of that.
However, another Union minister, Kalraj Mishra, still remains in office due to Assembly election in his native state of UP.