BJP parliamentary board will take decision on her letter.
AB Wire
While the BJP is passing through a tough political condition in the state, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel resigned on Monday saying that it is time to ensure that the younger generation gets an opportunity to take charge of the administration as she is going to turn 75 soon.
In a Facebook post written on Monday, Patel said, “Since some time, the party has introduced a tradition of senior leaders voluntarily stepping down from responsibilities when they complete 75 years of age. Which is exemplary and imitable, which is why the younger generation gets an opportunity to work. I will also complete 75 years this November.â€
“However, at the end of 2017 is the Gujarat assembly election, and in January 2017 is the biennial Vibrant Gujarat summit which is critical for Gujarat. So, in order to give enough time to the newly appointed Chief Minister, I had requested senior leaders of the party to relieve me of this responsibility two months ago. Today, once again through this letter, I humbly request the party’s senior leadership to relieve me from the Chief Minister’s responsibility,†she said.
Her decision came at a time when the BJP is facing tough challenges in the state which is known as one of the strongest bastions of the ruling party.
Patel thanked the party leadership for keeping faith in her and giving the opportunity to take up several responsibilities. She also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, her predecessor, for choosing her as the first woman chief minister of Gujarat.
“In May 2014, Shri Narendrabhai and senior leaders gave me the responsibility of the first woman Chief Minister of Gujarat, which I think did all the women of Gujarat proud… after the chief ministership of Shri Narendrabhai for over 12 years, I was chosen to take his place, which is naturally as difficult as counting stars in the sky. But I am proud of the fact that nowhere have I lagged behind in maintaining the pace of taking Gujarat forward on the course of development he charted,†she said.
BJP president Amit Shah said that the party parliamentary board will take a decision on the resignation of Patel. “Anandiben Patel has offered to resign. I will place her letter before the (BJP) parliamentary board which will take the final decision,†he said.
The two-year-long tenure of Anandiben Patel was a tough time for the BJP in Gujarat. The party lost many seats in local body elections paving the way to the congress party to make a comeback in the state. The agitation of the Patidar community seeking OBC status and the ongoing protests by Dalits against the atrocities against the community has adversely affected the image of the party which is going to face assembly elections in 2017.
The Hindu reported that the party had decided to sack Patel last month at a meeting held in New Delhi. “The decision to dispense with Anandiben was taken at a meeting in New Delhi on July 17 presided over by Mr. Modi with BJP chief Amit Shah in attendance. This decision was also conveyed to her that evening,†a senior BJP official told The Hindu.