With the stage almost set for Narendra Modi to take oath as Prime Minister, the ruling BJP in Gujarat is said to be scouting for a ‘dark horse’ to succeed him as Chief Minister.
Officially, however, the BJP has said it will consider Modi’s successor only after the results of the Lok Sabha elections are declared on Friday.
BJP President Rajnath Singh, his predecessor Nitin Gadkari and senior leader Arun Jaitley met Modi on Wednesday afternoon, apparently to discuss ministry formation in New Delhi.
Upon arrival at the airport this afternoon, Rajnath told reporters they had come to discuss “certain issues” with Modi which could not be talked about over the phone. Later, they all drove down to Modi’s residence here. The leaders are likely to brief media persons later.
According to sources, the BJP may spring a surprise by announcing some “fresh face” as the next CM, someone who is neither a minister nor an MLA. “Even Modi was neither a minister nor an MLA when he succeeded Keshubhai Patel in 2001. So, the BJP’s next CM may also be someone whose name is not even in the reckoning at present,” said a source.
The names of senior ministers Anandiben Patel, Nitin Patel and Saurabh Patel, besides that of Assembly Speaker Vajubhai Vala, have been doing the rounds for a while now. However, since former minister Amit Shah and Anandiben are seen as rivals, Modi may not favour the latter, as it could antagonise Shah, the sources said. Similarly, Modi would not like to name Saurabh as a possible successor as it could give ammunition to AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal whose allegations had forced Saurabh to issue a statement that he was related to Mukesh Ambani.
Nitin and Vala, once close to Keshubhai, may not be considered as serious contenders.
A Modi-like surprise In this scenario, at least two dark horses are said to have emerged in the State: the low-profile state BJP General Secretary (Organisation) and RSS point-man in Gujarat BJP Bhikhubhai Dalsania, and former Assembly Speaker Ganpat Vasava. The latter is currently BJP MLA from Mangrol (ST) Assembly constituency in Surat district.
If Dalsania succeeds Modi, it would only strengthen a tradition the BJP had set in 2001. Modi too was the General Secretary (Organisation) in Gujarat before being sent to New Delhi in 1996 and later brought back as CM in October 2001.
If Dalsania makes it, the RSS hopes to ‘regain’ the BJP’s control in its “Hindutva laboratory”, the way it could ‘regain’ control over the party with the possible re-appointment of Gadkari as the BJP’s national president.