Who is Bhupendra Patel, the Gujarat Chief Minister?

Shobhit Kalra
Published on: 27 April 2022 9:00 AM GMT
Who is Bhupendra Patel, the Gujarat Chief Minister?
X

Bhupendra Patel

The man in the center for Narendra Modi and Amit Shah's plan for Gujarat, Bhupendra Rajnikant Patel is a complete surprise pick for the new Chief Minister of Gujarat. A little known face in the political circles outside the state is now pitched to look after Modi's home turf.

Bhupendra Patel, 59, the first-time MLA from Ghatlodia constituency, was not even the contender but this low profile Patidar leader pips frontrunners. The decision was taken by the BJP legislature party meeting held at the BJP office in Gandhinagar.

Patel was picked up for the post as the Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani surprised everyone by tendering his resignation after completing five years in office.

The decisive factor for Bhupendra Patel that swung in his favour was he being from the Patidar or Patel community which accounts to a massive 17 to 18 per cent of vote share in Gujarat. The community is unhappy with the BJP from past few years and this is an apparent effort to woo them ahead of the Gujarat assembly polls falling next year.

BJP's foundation was strongly shaken during the Patidar agitation from 2015 to 2019 seeking Other Backward Class (OBC) status spearheaded by Hardik Patel.

Bhupendra Patel never served as a minister in the state government but he was considered as an architect of BJP's surge in the civic polls. He holds a good report with the Gujarat's dominant business community that will help his party in the elections.

Personal Life

Bhupendra Patel was born on 15 July, 1962 to a Gujarati Kadava Patidar family in Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Patel is a devoted follower of Cricket and Badminton and a builder by profession. He completed his Civil Engineering from the Government Polytechnic, Ahmedabad and holds a diploma degree. He is associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) from past several years. While filing his his 2017 election papers, Patel declared that he owns movable and immovable assets worth Rs 5 crore.

Political Career

- Bhupendra Patel is considered as a confidante of Uttar Pradesh Governor and former Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel.

- Bhupendra Patel is a first-time MLA from Gujarat's Ghatlodiya. He won the 2017 assembly election against the Congress's Shashikant Patel by more than 1 lakh votes.

- Patel was the chairman of the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) from 2015 to 2017.

- Patel was appointed as the President of Memnagar Nagarpalika in 1999-2000.

- He also served as a chairman of the Standing Committee of Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC).

What is in store for Bhupendra Patel in future?

- BJP has gained trust in Patel for the top post and there are definitely big responsibilities coming his way ahead of the Gujarat polls.

- His foremost task is to woo back to Patidars, who have been the biggest supporters of BJP.

- He has to make sure to neutralize the anti incumbency, which the BJP is facing in Gujarat in present times.

- Bhupendra Patel is considered to be man who is going to build the trust of people and the take forward the Modi-factor in the state.

Shobhit Kalra

Shobhit Kalra

Chief Sub Editor

Shobhit Kalra is giving his services in the field of Journalism from past 10 years. He holds the position of Chief Sub Editor at Newstrack and is a tech freak.

Next Story