BJP making space for seniors; Keshubhai Patel may be made Governor

GANDHINAGAR: With several BJP office-bearers joining the Union Cabinet, there are several vacancies in the party organisation. However, BJP looks set to first move veteran leaders to ‘respectable positions’ (read governors) before filling party posts and more than one leader is learnt to be in the race to become governor from Gujarat.

Octogenarian Keshubhai Patel’s name is already doing rounds for a possible gubernatorial posting in Rajasthan. He had recently had a knee-replacement surgery to add to his physical mobility. Sources close to Patel told ET that though no formal request has come to the veteran leader, there is talk about this in party circles and he was unlikely to turn it down.

A strong contender for a top job in the BJP national body is Amit Shah, the architect of BJP’s spectacular show in UP. While many believe that Shah could be in the race of party presidentship, sources in Gandhinagar believe that Shah may be given responsibility of states going to polls for the time being.

RSS appointee and BJP’s Gujarat organisational secretary Bhikhubhai Dalsania is also learnt to be eyeing a national posting. Dalsania had come out of his low-key backroom position to the centre of media limelight after his name was floated as one of the possible successor of Narendra Modi in Gujarat.

BJP’s Gujarat in-charge Om Mathur too is a contender for a top post and is learnt to have been eyeing the presidential position in the party. However, the final call on all matters will be taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.