Vijay Rupani, the frontrunner to succeed Anandiben Patel

AHMEDABAD: BJP state president Vijay Rupani is close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah and hence the natural choice to succeed Patel under the prevailing circumstances, as he can play a balancing role in the state polity, said BJP insiders.

Rupani cut his political teeth as a student activist and is the only minister in the present Cabinet who was jailed during the Emergency. He has been close to all BJP CMs of the state, including Keshubhai Patel, Narendra Modi and Anandiben Patel and has not been tainted by any allegations.

“What has been remarkable about him is the fact that he has always managed to get close to whosoever came to power and never was entangled in any controversy,” said a BJP source.



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

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A Jain, Rupani had played crucial roles in reigning in several powerful Patidar leaders in Saurashtra, including former Union minister Vallabh Kathiria, Babku Undhad and Vitthal Radadiya. The name of health minister Nitin Patel too is doing rounds, but he is less than likely to be a choice following the pronounced anger voiced by the Patidar community against him during the agitation. The name of Parshottam Rupala is also doing rounds as he is seen as one of the few tall leaders from the community who command substantial groundswell unlike many others.