Anandiben quits as Gujarat CM to pave way for fresh face', confirms Shah

Ahmedabad:  Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on Monday submitted her resignation letter to top BJP brass and asked them to relieve her from responsibilities of the post as she is turning 75 this year. 

Under the leadership of Patel, who has been a minister in the BJP government since 1998 and CM from 2014, the BJP for the first time in the post-Narendra Modi era in Gujarat is facing a tough challenge from its opponents and the party had been considering replacing her for quite some time now.

Read: BJP scared in Gujarat, Anandiben’s resignation due to AAP’s popularity: Kejriwal

However, the Chief Minister seemed to insist that age was the primary factor for her resignation.

 “There has been a tradition in our party that our leaders retire after they turn 75, since I am turning 75 this year in November, I would like to tell my party leaders to consider relieving me from the post of Gujarat’s chief minister before I turn 75,” Anandiben said in a post she published in her official Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Patel, who will turn 75 on November 21, also said the BJP needed a fresh face in the state before the elections due next year. While some reports claim that the BJP has already accepted her resignation, party chief Amit Shah said they are yet to take a final call on the matter.

"Have received Anandiben Patelji's letter. Her letter will now be kept before the BJP Parliamentary board for further decision," party chief Amit Shah said.

"She has said that if a new person has to be brought in, then he should get time. Gujarat elections have to take place and there is also Vibrant Gujarat summit, which has been a long tradition, to be held in January. She said if Vibrant Gujarat has to happen in January, then new person should get the opportunity now," he added.

Read: Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel may be Punjab Governor

Her resignation comes amidst criticism that her government had failed to contain anti-Dalit sentiment in the state in the wake of the recent Una incident, where 'gau rakshaks' had flogged dalits for skinning a dead cow.

The state has been reeling against several protests over the incident and Opposition parties have targeted Anandiben Patel for failing to take stock of the situation.

Patel had to face defeat as BJP recently fared badly in the rural civic bodies polls in December 2015. This was considered as a major loss for her as opposition Congress was able to win polls after almost 25 years in the state.

She also had to face the fierce Patel community quota agitation, one of the factors which contributed to BJP losing in rural local bodies polls, while retaining urban areas. Opposition Congress has also levelled allegations of corruption against her.