Saurashtra strongman Vijay Rupani in Gujarat Cabinet, could rise as CM contender

GANDHINAGAR: Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel inducted a potential rival in her first cabinet expansion on Wednesday, giving the powerful Saurashtra leader Vijay Rupani charge of transport, water supply, labour and employment. Analysts say Rupani has the capacity to create an alternate power centre in the state BJP, which has remained unipolar so far during Patel's term.

Rupani, who had started out as a student activist, is the only minister in the cabinet to have been jailed during the Emergency. While he has been close to all the BJP chief ministers including Keshubhai Patel, Narendra Modi and Anandiben Patel, unlike some of his peers he remained absolutely untainted by any allegation.

"What has been remarkable about him is the fact that he has always managed to get close with whosoever came to power and never got entangled in any controversy. From being a corporator in Rajkot, he has been the mayor and then a member of Rajya Sabha. But he had to wait for years to get to contest from Rajkot West assembly constituency as this was held by party heavyweight Vajbhai Bala for so long," said a BJP member. "There was no way he could be avoided in the cabinet expansion," added the member, who did not wish to be named.

While Rupani was made the chairman of manifesto committee during Keshubhai Patel’s regime, he enjoyed unbridled support from Narendra Modi as well and in turn ensured BJP’s grand electoral show in politically volatile Saurashtra region.

"He has this rare quality of keeping the workers happy and getting work done by the administration smoothly. This certainly cannot be said about most of the other leaders," said a senior BJP member, adding that Rupani also enjoys confidence of BJP’s national president Amit Shah. A Jain Bania by caste, Rupani played a crucial role in reining in several powerful Patidar leaders in Saurashtra including former Union minister Vallabh Kathiria, Babku Undhad and Vitthal Radadiya. The saving grace for Anandiben Patel would, however, be Rupani's loyalty to Narendra Modi, BJP members said. "Even if Rupani gets ambitious, it is Narendrabhai who will have to approve of it," said a senior BJP leader from Saurashtra. "Vijaybhai's talent lies in moving with the current all along and not ever opposing it," said a party worker.