Vijay Rupani sworn in as chief minister of Gujarat
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nitin Patel is the new deputy chief minister of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state.
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijay Rupani was sworn in as the chief minister of Gujarat on Sunday, reported ANI. He met Gujarat Governor OP Kohli on Saturday to stake his claim to form the state’s government, a day after party brass chose him to be the next chief minister.
Rupani was picked ahead of frontrunner Nitin Patel, days after former Chief Minister Anandiben Patel resigned from the post. Nitin Patel, who will be the state’s deputy chief minister, was present at the meeting with the governor along with several other party functionaries. Anandiben Patel was absent from the meeting, PTI reported. Nine ministers from the earlier cabinet were also reportedly dropped.
According to agency reports, the former chief minister wanted Patel to replace her, while the ruling party president Amit Shah backed Rupani's candidature. Patel was elevated to the post of deputy chief minister as a compromise.