After Vijay Rupani’s sudden resignation on Saturday as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, numerous names came up as his possible successor but nobody even thought of Bhupendra Patel emerging as the dark horse. The Gujarat BJP legislatute party, in a surprise move, named former engineer and MLA Bhupendra Patel as the new Chief Minister of Gujarat. Belonging to the Patidar community, Patel has been into politics for decades now. The patidar community was restless after the ouster of Anandiben Patelfrom CM post and were reportedly gravitating towards Hardik Patel of Congress. BJP hopes to pacify the numerically stronger and politically influential patidar community, which has traditionally voted for the saffron party, with the selection of Bhupendra Patel as the state CM. Here are 10 interesting facts about the new chief minister of Gujarat:
1. Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel, 59, has been a part of the RSS since his teenage days. Patel is a trustee of Sardardham and a chairman of the standing committee of Vishwa Umiya Foundation. He represents Kadva Patel community.
2. Patel started his political career in the 1990s when he served as the President of the city civic body from 1999-2000 and 2004-2006. He holds a diploma in civil engineering from the Government Polytechnic Ahmedabad.
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3. Known to be a loyalist of the former Chief Minister of Gujarat and current Governor of Uttar Pradesh Anandiben Patel, Bhupendra Patel contested his first major election in 2010 as a corporator from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). Later, he became a member of the corporation’s standing committee.
4. Patel also headed the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority before contesting his maiden assembly election in 2017. He is a builder by profession and has been in the real-estate business for 25 years with the company Vihan Associates.
5. During 2017 polls, the BJP fielded him from the Ghatlodia constituency in Ahmedabad, vacated by his mentor Anandiben Patel. He declared his assets at Rs 5 crores and won by a record margin of 1,17,000 votes against Shashikant Patel of the Indian National Congress.
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6. Patel belongs to the influential Patidar community and runs an engineering firm. His relations with the traders in his state have been good as well, giving him an edge in the business sector.
7. A low profile leader, his lack of visibility outside Ahmadabad is something that will be an immediate challenge for him.
8. Patel is also known to be an ardent follower of Dada Bhagwan and is considered to be God-fearing and religious, according to the Indian Express. He is called ‘Dada’ by his friends.
9. Many of his peers and political friends have told media persons that Patel is a sincere and honest political servant with an unblotted image. He was also the youngest candidate from the people running for the post.
10. Patel might have a hill to climb as being a loyalist to Anandiben -- who did not see eye-to-eye with Union Home Minister Amit Shah when Shah was an MLA between 2002 and 2017 – he would have to stand his ground in front of Shah loyalists.
