The BJP is repeating its existing leadership in Gujarat — Vijay Rupani will continue as Chief Minister while Nitil Patel will remain his deputy.

The BJP legislative party on Friday met at the State headquarters here, Shree Kamalam , to finalise the leadership. The announcement was made by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who, along with BJP MP Saroj Pandey, were the central observers sent by the party to Gujarat to help select the CM.

Senior BJP leader and MLA from Dholka, Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, proposed the names of Rupani and Patel as CM and Deputy CM, and this was supported by five other MLAs.

"Vijaybhai Rupani and Nitinbhai Patel were unanimously elected as the leader and deputy leader of the legislative party respectively. There was no alternate name suggested by the members,” said Jaitley. The dates for oath-taking ceremony will be announced subsequently.

The BJP had secured 99 seats in the recently-concluded Assembly polls with a vote share of 49.1 per cent, which was higher than the 46.85 in 2012.

Vikas promise Rupani, 61, assured the people of the State that he would bring about ‘ Sabka saath sabka vikas’ (Collective effort for the development of all) under his leadership. “The people have showed confidence in our administration with an increased vote share. We are committed to development, and will work for all irrespective of political differences,” he said while addressing the media after being elected as the leader of the legislative party.

“People have witnessed our able administration. And we will continue to deliver,” said Patel, who is also 61. Patel, whose political career spans 20 years, won from Mehsana constituency.

Rupani also said a detailed analysis will be conducted on the reasons for the party’s loss in the other seats.

“This is a big victory for us as it is a mandate for the party to rule the State for another five years, following a rule of 22 years. This shows people’s confidence in us,” he said.

An RSS face and former Gujarat BJP president, Rupani secured a thumping majority in the Rajkot West constituency, defeating Congress heavyweight Indranil Rajguru with a margin of 53,755 votes.

Able administrator Known to be soft-spoken and an able administrator, Rupani was chosen to take the reigns in July 2016, when then Chief Minister Anandiben Patel resigned.

A law graduate, Rupani served as a corporator and standing committee chairman at Rajkot Municipal Corporation. He then served as mayor in 1996-97. In 2006-2012 he was sent to the Rajya Sabha.

He has held various key posts, including chairman of the party’s manifesto committee during Keshubhai Patel’s regime.

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