Narendra Modi likely replacement for Patel

It has now been confirmed that Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel has given in to pressure and has handed in his resignation to the central leadership of the BJP.

"It had become certain by yesterday itself that Keshubhai Patel is on his way out. The only problem is finding his successor and that can only be determined in Ahmedabad," BJP general secretary Pyarelal Khandelwal said.

Narendra Modi seems to be emerging as the frontrunner for the post of chief minister of Gujarat. But the party is still trying to arrive at a consensus. The central leadership of the party is holding a meeting today to discuss the issue.

Right through the day yesterday, there were several meetings in the Capital to try and find a consensus candidate to replace Patel, who had been under pressure to step down ever since the party suffered reverses in the Gujarat assembly bye-elections.

The Gujarat ministers, who had been called to Delhi for consultations on the leadership issue, returned to Ahmedabad today and confirmed that Patel has resigned. Industries Minister Suresh Mehta said that his decision to resign was conveyed to the party's central leadership last night. About the likely successor, he said, "That chapter has not yet started. That is the second chapter which will start now."

The BJP's central leadership is likely to send a delegation of senior leaders to Gujarat to take the views of the MLAs before deciding on Patel's successor.

Finding a replacement for Patel is proving to be difficult for the BJP central leadership as he belongs to the politically powerful Patel community. Last night, 28 MLAs from Saurashtra which is Patel's stronghold had written a letter to the party president asking that they too be consulted before a decision is taken on the new chief minister. They had also expressed the view that Patel alone should not be blamed for the party's poor performance in the Sabarmati and Sabarkantha bye-elections.
Source - Ndtv.com
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