National News
Cracks appear in the newly formed government in Gujarat
Within days of taking over, cracks have appeared in the new government in Gujarat as deputy Chief Minister and prominent Patidar leader Nitin Patel is sulking over the issue of portfolio allocation in which three powerful departments: finance, petrochemicals and urban development, have been taken away from him.
On Friday, Mr. Patel did not turn up to his office and did not even make any public appearance anywhere. Sources in the government said Mr. Nitin has made his displeasure known to the high command regarding “light weight portfolios” given to him despite he being the CM.
In the new government, he has got roads and buildings, Narmada, health and capital projects.
According to party insiders, the party high command is sending a senior leader to mediate and end the crisis that has emerged even before the new government settled.
Meanwhile, taking a dig at Mr. Nitin Patel, the quota agitation leader Hardik Patel invited him to join his stir to fight for justice to the Patidar community.
“Nitinbhai can join in our fight for justice. After all, he got only lollipop in BJP,” the 24-year-old Mr. Hardik said in Botad where he is holding the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) meeting to deliberate and discuss the future strategy.
Differences between him and Chief Minister Vijay Rupani cropped up on Thursday before the first cabinet meeting in which ministers were supposed to be distributed the departments. Due to differences, the first meeting was delayed by four hours.
The meeting, scheduled to start at 5 p.m. on Thursday evening, eventually commenced at 9 p.m. after a marathon meeting at CM’s residence where CM, his deputy and state party President Jitu Vaghani assigned portfolios to the new ministers after consultation with the party top brass in New Delhi.
“Nitinbhai is upset at not getting finance department,” a senior BJP leader said, adding “despite being Deputy CM, he is not dealing with any important portfolio like home, general administration, industries, mines and minerals, finance, urban development or revenue.”
After the cabinet meeting on Thursday late night, CM Rupani, Nitin Patel and Jitu Vaghani held a press conference in which Mr. Rupani ruled out any differences but Mr. Patel did not talk to the press as he sat there with gloomy face.
“There were no differences regarding anything and the government will utilise Nitinbhai’s experiences and expertise will utilised by the government,” CM told media persons as Nitn Patel looked on with sullen face.
In the new government, Mr. Rupani has kept home, general administration, industrial and mines and minerals and urban development and petrochemical departments with himself while Mr. Patel got only road and building, health, medical education, Narmada and capital projects.
Saurabh Patel, who was earlier dropped from the cabinet when Mr. Rupani took over as CM in 2016 after series of allegations of irregularities and nepotism, has been rehabilitated in the cabinet with finance and energy, both very important departments in the government.
