The BJP in Gujarat declared Anandiben Patel as its leader of the House on Wednesday.

After Narendra Modi resigned as CMto occupy the Prime Minister’s chair, the BJP’s legislative party in Gujarat unanimously declared Patel as its leader and hence, the State’s next CM.

Senior BJP leader and minister in the Modi Cabinet, Bhupenrasinh Chudasama, proposed her name while other leaders including Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nitin Patel, Ganpat Vasava, Ramanbhai Vora and Hirabhai Solanki seconded the proposal.

The 73-year-old Patel will take the oath as CM along with the new Cabinet ministers on Thursday afternoon.

All senior BJP leaders along with the CMs of BJP-ruled states are likely to attend the function that is to be held at Mahatma Mandir complex here.

Addressing a gathering of BJP MLAs, party workers, mayors and panchayat heads besides party leaders including Om Mathur and Thawarchand Gehlot, Patel made an emotional speech.

She expressed her gratitude towards the party and its leadership for giving a high post to a woman.

“BJP is a party where women get such respect. We have been given an opportunity to work and perform. I would keep to the course of development set by Narendrabhai intact and keep it in pace,” said a teary Patel.

Greetings from Modi

Modi greeted her, saying: “The State is setting examples.

“We will have the first woman Chief Minister in Gujarat and that too a CM with a gold medal in M.Sc. and a President’s award.”

As a message to the new government and the new ministers, Modi said: “I have confidence that with team work, things will go easy.

No pending files “Even after such extensive election campaigning I have no pending files on my table. There is no better example than this for someone in public life.”

A teacher by profession, Anandiben Patel was married to Mafatbhai Patel, a professor, but she has been staying away from her family since the mid-1990s. She has a son and a daughter.

The longest serving MLA in the State, since 1998, Patel has worked as minister in Keshubhai Patel’s cabinet.

In the Modi Cabinet, she had been holding the Revenue, Urban Development, Roads and Buildings portfolios.