Who will be the next Gujarat CM? Find out...

Even as Union Minister and BJP's central observer for Gujarat Narendra Singh Tomar and party's national general secretary Tarun Chugh reached Gujarat on Sunday to meet the BJP legislators before finalising the next chief ministerial candidate, ETV Bharat picks five potential candidates who could succeed Vijay Rupani.

Hyderabad: Even as Union Minister and BJP's central observer for Gujarat Narendra Singh Tomar and party's national general secretary Tarun Chugh reached Gujarat on Sunday to meet the BJP legislators before finalising the next chief ministerial candidate, ETV Bharat picks five potential candidates who could succeed Vijay Rupani.

Gordhan Zadafia

Zadafia (67) is considered as one of the closest confidantes of founding members of BJP and first BJP CM in state, Keshubhai Patel. He had parted ways with the party and the then CM Narendra Modi, and went on to launch the first Maha Gujarat Janata Party and joined Keshubhai Patel’s Gujarat Parivartan Party. Subsequently, Zadafia returned to BJP. He is currently the vice-president of Gujarat BJP. He is a Leuva Patidar from Thhasavillage of Bhavnagar district. A veteran politician he was the Minister of State for Home during 2002 Gujarat riots.

Nitin Patel

Nitin Patel (65) is a senior Kadva Patidar leader of the BJP who has roots in Mehsana district. Currently, he is the deputy chief minister in the government. He became a cabinet minister in 1995, and continued to hold important portfolios, including the Finance and Health departments. He was a front-runner for the chief ministerial post in 2016 when Anandiben Patel was removed from the position.

Mansukh Mandaviya

Hailing from Leuva Patel sub-caste group of numerically strong Patidar community, Mansukh Mandaviya (49) was elected to Rajya Sabha in 2012. He was inducted as a Minister of State in the Union Council of Ministers in 2016. In July, he was elevated as a Cabinet Minister and allocated Health portfolio. Born in a farmer’s family in Hanol village of Bhavnagar district, Mandaviya has made rapid strides since he joined ABVP in 1992. He won his maiden Assembly election in 2002.

Praful Khodabhai Patel

Considered very close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Praful Khodabhai Patel (63) became minister of state for Home when Modi was the CM. Praful’s only successful stint in electoral politics so far was in 2007 when he contested from the Himmatnagar as a BJP candidate. He belongs to Umta village in Mehsana district.

CR Paatil

Paatil (66) is a three-time MP from Navsari and later appointed party president in Gujarat in July. As the state party president, Paatil has ushered a number of changes to the party organisation while setting the target of winning all 182 seats in the next Assembly polls. A native of Jalgaon in Maharashtra, Paatil had served Gujarat Police before joining politics. He's a native of Jalgaon in Maharashtra.