Gujarat wing of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set for a reshuffle.
As per sources, Gujarat BJP is likely to announce party’s new state president in first week of April, discussions for which are likely to hold centrestage in the one-day state executive meeting on Sunday.
Three names – RC Faldu, Purushottam Rupala and IK Jadeja – are emerging as frontrunners in the race to become next president of Gujarat BJP, say sources. Term of BJP’s existing organisational team had ended before state assembly elections, but the reshuffle was kept on hold till formation of the next government. Selection of national president (of the saffron party) also played a role in the delay.
Now that Rajnath Singh is appointed BJP’s national chief and Gujarat government is firmly settled in the saddle, Gujarat BJP is focussing on electing its new chief. As per sources, the party will announce Team Modi soon after completion of the ongoing budget session in the state assembly. It already appointed observers couple of months ago, and they have submitted their report to party’s top brass.
Incumbent RC Faldu may be chosen for a next term for he is seen as somebody who is close to CM Narendra Modi, say sources. The party organisation is pretty satisfied with his style of working.
There, however, is a possibility that Gujarat BJP may choose a leader who is a Kshatriya. There is a tradition in BJP of alternating between Patel and Kshatriya candidates as the party president. Faldu is a Patel, and Kshatriya IK Jadeja can be the politician who replaces him at the party’s top post.
National vice-president Purushottam Rupala is also emerging as a strong contender, given his loyalty to the chief minister, feel sources. But party leaders say that his chances are bleak, and he may be retained as the national V-P.
Discussions during state executive meeting at Staff Training College, Gandhinagar, on Sunday promise to clear the picture as to who the next president of Gujarat BJP will be. The meeting will be presided over by Faldu and Modi and talk of the reshuffle is on the cards. All city and district-level office bearers are expected to participate in the meeting.
