It’s a replica of 2007. Cast has remained more or less the same as the Narendra Modi-led government prepares for the showdown 2012. The old trusted lieutenants have been awarded and it is perhaps for the first time that apart from sitting MLAs, no member of the Modi cabinet has been dropped by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), if one scans through the two lists announced by the party, so far.
However, seven ministers (see table) had to move out and find new home after their previous constituencies seized to exist after the Election Commission’s (EC) delimitation exercise.
Apart from minister of education and sports, Jaysinh Chauhan, all other ministers have got tickets. However, it must be noted that Chauhan’s constituency Prantij has been excluded in the first as well as second list. Looking at Modi’s ‘no drop theory’, his name may also be included in the list.
Some of the changes have been forced after constituencies of these ministers have been reserved by the Election Commission, post-delimitation. For example, minister for water supply and urban development, Nitin Patel will be contesting from Mehsana instead of Kadi (2007), which has been reserved for schedule caste now.
Some of the ministers have also taken refuge in opting for safe seats to thwart the anti-incumbency factor in their previous seats. Two high-profile cabinet members, minister of revenue Anandiben Patel and minister for state for energy, finance, petroleum and industry Saurabh Patel fall in this list. While Anandiben has changed her seat from Patan to Ghatlodia, Saurabh Patel has switched to Akota from Botad.
Minister for law and justice Pradipsinh Jadeja has also changed his constituency from Asarva to Vatva. It seems this change was necessitated after retired bureaucrat RM Patel joined the party. Patel who was the force behind the success of Modi’s Garib Kalyan Mela, has been rewarded with Asarva seat.
In case of Jaswantsinh Bhabhor, minister for tribal development, it was a forced decision to move to Limkheda (reserved seat) since his Randhikpur constituency seized to exists after delimitation.
Constituency for minister of state for water supply, health and family welfare, Parabat Patel has also changed from Tharad to Vav.
Who's Going Where
Name From To
Anandiben Patel Patan Ghatlodia
Saurabh Patel Botad Akota
Pardipsinh Jadeja Asarva Vatva
Narottam Patel Chorasi Udhna
Nitin Patel Kadi Mehsana
Mangubhai Patel Navsari Gandevi
Parbat Patel Vav Tharad
