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CM, DyCM's meeting with guv fuels talks of cabinet reshuffle

While Rupani and Patel called it a ‘goodwill visit’, it is being seen as indication of a major change in State politics in the coming days

Ameeting attended by Chief Minister CM Vijay Rupani and his deputy Nitin Patel with Governor Acharya Devvrat on Wednesday has fueled speculations of reshuffling in the state cabinet which has been a long pending issue.



Though Patel termed it as a goodwill visit as the governor completed a year in office, it is being seen as the major change in the state politics in coming days. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is in the mode of giving surprises, the latest being the appointment of Navsari MP CR Paatil who took charge on Tuesday as the state unit president.

Paatil’s name was not even on the minds of top leaders who are instrumental in taking crucial decisions. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, CM Rupani left the cabinet meeting earlier than usual and went to meet the state governor.

Nitin Patel too joined him and they had lunch together, said sources. The meeting that lasted for two hours has sparked speculations about the reshuffling in the Rupani cabinet. On the other hand, Nitin Patel, Kunvarji Bavaliya, Pradipsinh Jadeja and Bhupendrasinh Chudasama also held a closed-door meeting at Swarnim Sankul on Wednesday evening in the absence of Rupani.

On the organisational front, RSS envoy in BJP and joint general secretary (organisation), V Satish camped in the capital for two days and conducted a series of meetings with top leaders.

He and Rupani had held a closed-door meeting at Kamalam in the presence of Bhikhu Dalsaniya, general secretary (organisation) in Gujarat BJP. Satish will hand over the report regarding developments in the state to the party high command in New Delhi.

As per talks in the political fraternity, former president Jitu Vaghani may be inducted in the Cabinet while Minister of State for Home Pradipsinh Jadeja is likely to be promoted to Cabinet rank. Meanwhile, there are also rumours of BJP veterans like Dilip Sanghani and Atmaram Patel making a comeback to the government if Sanghani, who lost Assembly polls from Dhari in Amreli, and Atmaram Patel, who lost from Gadhada in Botad, are given tickets and emerge victorious in the forthcoming by-polls.


It is also learnt that agriculture minister RC Faldu could be replaced by Raghavaji Patel, a Congress turncoat. State-level ministers Vibhavariben Dave and Vasan Ahir may also be dropped from the Cabinet. There is a chance that Chief Whip Pankaj Desai, who is an MLA from Nadiad, and Assembly speaker Rajendra Trivedi are inducted in the Cabinet.

Meanwhile replying to a question asked by media persons regarding their visit to the Governor, DyCM Nitin Patel said, “We went to partake of lunch on the Governor’s invitation. He has completed one year in the State and we only discussed the ongoing coronavirus situation.”

Reshuffle in party

VSatish held a meeting with top BJP leaders including newly appointed president C R Paatil, former president Jitu Vaghani, general secretaries Bhargav Bhatt, K C Patel apart from other leaders like I K Jadeja, Gordhan Zadaphia, and Shabdasharan Brahmbhatt on Wednesday. They reportedly discussed reshuffling in the organisation.

The party restructuring has been pending since last August when the term of the entire team of the state BJP leadership ended. V Satish has taken views of top State leaders regarding new appointments. It is learnt that the party is likely to appoint a new set of general secretaries and vice-presidents while treasurer Surendra Patel could be dropped from the post. Appointments of president and office-bearers of city and districts are yet to be made. The final decision will be taken by the high command before the by-elections at eight assembly seats.

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