Days after being sworn into office, Patel has yet to take charge of the portfolios allotted to him. He has been given the charge of Roads and Buildings, Health, Medical Education, Narmada, Kalpsar and Capital Project.
A day after expressing his strong displeasure about significant portfolios being taken away from him for his second stint in the Vijay Rupani government, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel stayed home on Saturday, meeting with supporters at his residence.
A large shamiana was erected at the senior BJP leader's residence in Thaltej, Ahmedabad, for his supporters, who began pouring in since morning. By evening, around 15,000 people from across the state visited the leader, who is awaiting the party high command's response to his demands for the return of key portfolios, such as Finance and Urban Development, he had held during his first term in the government.
Days after being sworn into office, Patel has yet to take charge of the portfolios allotted to him. He has been given the charge of Roads and Buildings, Health, Medical Education, Narmada, Kalpsar and Capital Project.
Patel said he would wait and watch to see how the situation unfolded and would reveal everything at the right time. However, he denied rumours that he would quit if his demands were not met.
Addressing the media at his residence, Patel said, "There is no question of me leaving the party. I have always been with the BJP and will remain with it. I have never talked about resigning as deputy CM or as MLA. That I challenged the party is just rumour."
"This is my struggle to get the portfolios that suits a deputy CM. The portfolios I have been given now are not very important."
"I want important portfolios. I'm acting for my self-respect, I don't have any other interest," Patel added.
After a late night meeting between Patel and senior leaders, including ministers Bhupendrasinh Chudasama and Kaushik Patel, at Daskroi MLA Babubhai Patel's farm house on Saturday, Chudasama said "The meeting was fruitful. The party will come up with a solution in a day or two."
Earlier, senior BJP MLA Yogesh Patel from Manjalpur seat in Vadodara city was one of the leaders who extended support to the deputy CM.
"When Vadodara city and district gave all the seats to BJP, the party should have taken one representative from here in the ministry. This is injustice to us. I am one of the senior-most MLAs in Gujarat, but the party has been ignoring me."
Former CM Anandiben Patel, whom Nitin Patel reportedly met on Friday, said, "I do not know what exactly happened in the past two days. If Nitinbhai has any disagreement, he should make representations before the high command."
Gujarat BJP chief Jitu Vaghani noted, "This is an internal matter of our party and it will be solved quickly and with sincere efforts."
Mansukh Mandaviya, MoS at the Centre said, "Nitinbhai is not distressed and hence there is no need to placate him. He is a senior leader of our party and has made great contribution to the BJP."
Among those who visited Patel on Saturday were veteran BJP leader Surendra Patel, former minister Narottam Patel, former MLA Pragji Patel, BJP leaders Kirit Patel, CK Patel and many others, mostly dissidents who are unhappy with the party high command for different reasons.
"They (Amit Shah and Rupani) have sought two days to consider my demand. After that, if my demands are not met, I will make some revelations. I hope I won't have to do it and they will find an amicable solution," Patel said earlier in the day.
Patel's ultimatum could give the BJP a significantly big crisis situation to deal with. The revolt from a leader of his stature could encourage other leaders who are unhappy with the party leadership to come together and put up a fight.
"I am meeting my supporters and other BJP leaders here, and they sympathise with me. I hope the party high command will take notice of this and will make the right decision," Patel said.
A senior BJP leader said on condition of anonymity, "I don't think Nitin Patel's revolt will create any problem for the BJP. If he is expecting to draw support from dissident leaders, he is wrong. None of them will rebel against the party considering what has happened to leaders like Shankersinh Vaghela and Keshubhai Patel. I think the high command will not entertain Nitin Patel's demands."
Meanwhile, there were reports that the BJP high command was sending their envoy to placate Patel. It is also learnt that senior leaders, including Gujarat BJP chief Jitu Vaghani, CM Rupani and others are going to hold a meeting with Patel on Monday to resolve the issue. BJP chief Amit Shah is also likely to attend.
Portfolio war
- Second-time deputy CM of Gujarat Nitin Patel cut to size in portfolio allocation
- Patel had previously held ministries like finance & urban development
- He has demanded he be given back the portfolios that suit his stature
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