Modi assures smooth transition of power

With the stage seemingly all set for Gujarat to welcome state Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel as its next chief minister, prime-minister-designate Narendra Modi will attend a special Assembly session on Wednesday and tender his resignation as chief minister.

Modi is expected to address the House and thank party colleagues in his last Assembly session as chief minister. 

Meanwhile, the BJP’s Central observer Thawar Chand Gehlot, who was expected to arrive here on Tuesday night, will meet with BJP MLAs and look into their demands before naming the next chief minister of Gujarat.

Gujarat BJP in-charge Om Mathur too will meet MLAs and seek their opinion before ratifying the decision.

The special Assembly session will also be attended by the Opposition Congress. The session is expected to begin at 11 am. Subsequently, a meeting of BJP legislators will be held at the Town Hall at Gandhinagar at 4 pm, where the name of the next chief minister is expected to be ratified. Both Gehlot and Mathur will attend the meeting.

Though Patel, party leaders say, is almost confirmed to be the next chief minister, Modi wants to ensure smooth transition of power in his presence.  Modi wants Patel's swearing-in ceremony to take place amid consensus. Party leaders said the ceremony is expected to take place before Modi leaves for Delhi.

Even though the Congress has been opposing a lot of his policy decisions over the past 12 years, on Wednesday the party's legislators are expected to give him a cordial farewell at the special Assembly session. Congress leaders said the fight was always political and never personal.