Shah’s loyal Rupani new Gujarat CM, Nitin Patel deputy

TIL Desk/National/Gandhinagar-In a surprise decision, BJP state unit chief Vijay Rupani, a Amit Shah loyalist, was today chosen as the new Chief Minister of Gujarat to succeed Anandiben Patel, pipping Nitin Patel who was considered a sure pick for the top job in the poll-bound state.

Nitin Patel, seen as the front runner for the top slot after Anandiben offered to resign, was made deputy Chief Minister. It is for the first time that Gujarat will have a deputy chief minister.

The announcement was made by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who was assigned as the party’s observer, after the BJP legislature party meeting which elected 61-year-old Rupani as its leader. The names of Rupani and Nitin Patel were proposed by Anandiben Patel and seconded by several MLAs.