-TMC Desk
Ahmedabad (Gujarat), December 30, 2017 In August 2016, Nitin Patel was almost tipped as the chief minister of Gujarat after the exit of Anandiben Patel. But at the last minute he was replaced by Vijay Rupani and made the deputy chief minister.
Post-2017 Assembly election many political pundits speculated that Rupani would not get the second term because of the relatively poor performance of the BJP in the state. Name of deputy CM Nitin Patel was also floated as in that way the BJP would be able to placate the Patidars, who appear to be sore with the saffron party.
But that was not to be. Rupani clipped the wings of Nitin Patel by divesting him of three important portfolios––finance, urban development and petroleum portfolios, which he used to hold last time.
In return the upset Nitin did not assume office in the Sachivalaya in Gandhinagar on Friday even as many ministers took charge.
Sources close to him said that he was so furious that he also thought in terms of quitting from the cabinet.
The party central leadership has reportedly asked him to wait for sometime.
His junior Saurabh Patel has been given the portfolio of finance. Two other key portfolios, urban development and petroleum, held by the deputy CM were taken by Rupani himself.
