Ahmedabad: Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel took oath as the CM on Sept 13th and three days later a total of nine cabinet ministers, five ministers of state with independent charge and nine ministers of state were sworn in at 1.30 pm on Sept 16th. The allotment of portfolios has also been completed after the first cabinet meeting at 4.30 pm.
New team has little experience of running govt
The new team of CM Bhupendra Patel will now work for the Gujarat Assembly elections. With 14 months to go before the December 2022 elections, the team which has no experience of running the government will have to trust government officials and work for the people. They will have to listen to the questions raised by the public, initiate steps for their welfare and deliver a popular budget. Also, the ministers will have to devote at least three days a week to meet the people, if the new team adopts and implements the deliverables for a resounding success in the Gujarat Assembly elections.
Will Patil's 'No Repeat Theory' succeed?
As nothing is eternal in politics, the power of the Rupani government was changed overnight, and Bhupendra Patel's government assumed charge. The BJP high command Mandal has played a pivotal role, it is too early to say how successful it will be by implementing the 'No Repeat Theory'. But the duo of Modi and Shah has made a radical change in Gujarat with the help of BJP state president CR Patil. Changing the whole team is no small feat. A very large operation has been carried out.
BJP turned weakness of Congress into a strength
The year 2017 was a significant year for the BJP. One by one, the big Congress leaders realized that if power was needed, then BJP was the saviour. Then came the Rajya Sabha elections and they started quitting the Congress. Even when Congress was in power, the weakness was that it was constantly mired in power struggles and was facing reports of tug-of-war. With no factionalism and no power in hand, the BJP opened its doors to welcome the Congressmen and wreaked havoc. As it may be recalled, former Assembly Speaker Ramanlal Vora had accepted the resignation of 16 MLAs, most of the Congressmen. Thereafter, the Gujarat Assembly Speaker Rajendra Trivedi had accepted the resignations of 19 MLAs, breaking former speaker Ramalal Vora's record.
Congressmen in Bhupendra Patel's new team?
Brijesh Merja, Jitu Chaudhary and Raghavji Patel have been given ministerial posts in the new dispensation in the state, while, Kunwarji Bawliya, Jawahar Chawda and Jayesh Radadia who were given ministerial posts in the Rupani government have been dropped. With this, a message is also being sent to Congress that if the BJP decides, it will fulfil its promise at any time.
BJP's strategy to adopt Congressmen?
As is known there is a craving in the state BJP to break the record of Madhav Singh Solanki winning 149 seats. Patil's statement with a gold plate is worth remembering, even if it looks like ash has fallen on him at times. That's the big dream of the BJP top brass which Patil is terrified to achieve. A situation has to be created wherein the BJP candidates win in all the pockets of the state. The dominant leaders of the Congress were also included in the BJP to preserve the stronghold of Saurashtra and North Gujarat and it would not be a surprise if the BJP lays the red carpet for the fact that there are still three capable leaders from the Congress.
Role for senior ministers
At present, senior leaders have gone home. Rupani's cabinet ministers are nowhere to be found, what will they do now? What will the senior leaders like Vijay Rupani, Nitin Patel, Pradipsinh Jadeja, Bhupendrasinh Chudasma and Saurabh Patel do? How will they work in the organization? How will they go to the people? Since there has been a change overnight, what will they do with their constituency?
Vaghela's tweet indicates courage & spirit
"Today's politics is no less than the Mahabharata. It is Dharma and Karma to fight against the Kauravas of one's own family when Adarsh and Swabhiman are under attack. This war of Dharma is not only for the protection of self-respect but also for the welfare of the entire region. Whenever such a situation arises, Arjun will have to fight without hesitation. Who comes forward to revolt," tweeted former CM Shankarsinh Vaghela.
Rupani govt's failure
The Vijay Rupani government had failed to manage the deteriorating health situation during the second wave of Corona, mismanagement in civil hospitals, the 24 to 48-hour waiting period of 108, the black market of remedesivir injections and private hospitals fleecing people. On the other hand, senior ministers of the Rupani government were not doing community work, living among the people and listening to the problems of the people. There was disagreement between Rupani and Nitin Patel. Also, there was no consensus between Rupani and Patil. This is how the government was running. All these inputs have gone to the BJP top brass before they decided to exclude seniors and form a new team. Now, the new CM and his team will have to deal with the damage control. There seems to be a whole new plan to divert people's attention.
Patel Vs Patil
With the Gujarat Assembly elections coming up in December 2022, the BJP has made a big bet. The Aam Aadmi Party, on the other hand, is gearing up for the election and cannot be taken lightly. But the BJP has set up a whole new team to play the game again. The moves of the game have also begun. Now, it is to be seen whether Bhupendra Patel will play or C. R. Patil will play. Will this be called CM Bhupendra Patel's team or BJP state president C.R. Patil's team?
