AMN / AHMADABAD/ NEW DELHI
Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel has offered to resign as Chief Minister. In a post on social media, Mrs. Patel has asked the party high command to start process of selecting a new Chief Minister of the state. Mrs. Patel said in a televised statement that she wants to pave the way for younger leaders in the party to take charge.
In a letter to the party high command, she has asked it to relieve her from the responsibility of Chief Minister as she turns 75 in November. She has posted the letter on her Facebook page announcing her decision. Mrs. Patel has submitted her resignation to the state BJP president Vijay Rupani.
BJP President Amit Shah has said the party’s Parliamentary Board will take a decision on Gujarat Chief Minister’s resignation and her successor.
Ms. Patel’s decision came in the backdrop of Patidar agitation by the Patel community for reservation and recent protests in the state by dalits after Una incident. It is believed that BJP leadership was not happy with the way she handled both the issues.
BJP President Amit Shah today said the party’s Parliamentary Board will take a decision on Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel’s resignation and her successor.
Mr. Shah told media in New Delhi that the Chief Minister wanted her replacement to get adequate time to prepare for Vibrant Gujarat summit to be held in January 2017 and the assembly polls later next year.
He said, Ms Patel had twice offered to resign and also raised the issue in the BJP’s National Executive meet in June and wrote to him again today morning.
He said the Chief Minister has cited age as the reason behind her decision saying she has set a good precedent. Ms. Patel’s decision came in the backdrop of Patidar agitation by the Patel community for reservation and recent protests in the state by dalits after Una incident.
It is believed that BJP leadership was not happy the way she handled both the issues. In a post on social media, Mrs. Patel has asked the party high command to start process of selecting a new Chief Minister of the state.
Mrs. Patel said in a televised statement that she want to pave the way for younger leaders in the party to take charge. In a letter to the party high command, she has asked it to relieve her from the responsibility of Chief Minister as she turns 75 in November.
She has posted the letter on her Facebook page announcing her decision. Mrs. Patel has submitted her resignation to the state BJP president Vijay Rupani.