Vijay Rupani Saturday resigned as Chief Minister of Gujarat, a year before the state Assembly elections. After tendering his resignation to Governor Acharya Devavrat, Rupani said he had willingly stepped down from the post after a decision in this regard was taken by the BJP in the “larger interest of Gujarat”.
Interacting with media persons outside Raj Bhavan after tendering his resignation, Rupani said, “With my resignation, the party’s new leadership will get an opportunity. And we will all take Gujarat to new heights under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
When questioned asked his sudden resignation, Rupani said, “It is a natural process in our party. The party worker gets different responsibilities at different times. We do not call it a post, we call it a responsibility. Now, I will shoulder whatever responsibility the party gives me.”
“This is a relay race. Everybody runs and moves ahead. I had the responsibility for five years. I was running. Now, I will give the flag to someone else. (Now) He will run,” Rupani added.
In response to another question on the reasons behind his resignation, Rupani said, “The party has taken this decision in the larger interest of Gujarat. And I hail that.”
Rupani also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the face of the party, and the next Gujarat Assembly elections, which will be held by December 2022, will be fought under his leadership.
Rupani resigned hours after attending the ground breaking ceremony of an educational complex of the Patidar community on the outskirts of Gandhinagar. PM Modi had made a virtual address at the event.
His resignation has come amid talks of the Patidar community distancing itself from the BJP. Some top community leaders have publicly said the next chief minister of Gujarat should be a Patidar.
It also comes amid a perceived clash of leadership between Rupani and newly-appointed party president C R Paatil.
Rupani was sworn in as CM in 2016, replacing Anandiben Patel. The party had won the last Assembly elections in 2017 under his leadership.
