New Delhi: In an unexpected political development, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani Submitted his resignation to Governor Acharya Devvrat at Raj Bhavan on Saturday.
After submitting his resignation, Rupani told reporters that he was grateful to the BJP leadership for giving him the opportunity to serve as the chief minister.
“During my tenure, I got the opportunity to work for the development of the state under Prime Minister Narendra Modileadership,” Rupani said.
He evaded questions about the reasons behind the sudden move, saying that he served as the CM for five years which is a long time.
Rupani said change is a natural phenomenon in the BJP.
He said that he would continue to work under the leadership of the National President of BJP.
“People have repeatedly reposed their faith in the BJP during the last five years,” he said.
Rupani, who took over in 2016 after replacing Anandiben Patel, completed five years of his tenure last month.
It is not clear whether Deputy CM Nitin Patel will now hold the top post or the party will choose any other leader.
Assembly elections are due next year in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state.
Rupani is the third BJP CM to resign in recent weeks.
Earlier, BS Yediyurappa and Tirath Singh Rawat had resigned as chief ministers of Karnataka and Uttarakhand respectively.
Watch Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani resigned a year before the assembly elections
After submitting his resignation, Rupani told reporters that he was grateful to the BJP leadership for giving him the opportunity to serve as the chief minister.
“During my tenure, I got the opportunity to work for the development of the state under Prime Minister Narendra Modileadership,” Rupani said.
He evaded questions about the reasons behind the sudden move, saying that he served as the CM for five years which is a long time.
Rupani said change is a natural phenomenon in the BJP.
He said that he would continue to work under the leadership of the National President of BJP.
“People have repeatedly reposed their faith in the BJP during the last five years,” he said.
Rupani, who took over in 2016 after replacing Anandiben Patel, completed five years of his tenure last month.
It is not clear whether Deputy CM Nitin Patel will now hold the top post or the party will choose any other leader.
Assembly elections are due next year in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state.
Rupani is the third BJP CM to resign in recent weeks.
Earlier, BS Yediyurappa and Tirath Singh Rawat had resigned as chief ministers of Karnataka and Uttarakhand respectively.
Watch Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani resigned a year before the assembly elections
.