Nitin Patel ends revolt after Amit Shah’s ‘assurance’

After sulking for two days, Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel on Sunday agreed to join the Vijay Rupani-led government.

Patel told the media he took the decision after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah promised that he would get the portfolios commensurate with his stature.

"BJP President Amit Shah today called up early morning..., so I will take the charge today. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani will meet state Governor OP Kohli in afternoon and give a letter allocating a new department to me," the 61-year-old deputy chief minister told media.

Patel staged a revolt by refusing to join office after the portfolios of Finance, Petrochemicals and Urban Development were taken away from him and he was allotted road and building, health, medical education, Narmada, Kalpsar and capital projects this time.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, who kept charge of the Urban Development department himself while Finance was allotted to Saurabh Patel, had said while announcing the portfolios, "It is not true that the minister, who has the finance portfolio, is the number two in the cabinet. Nitin Patel is our senior leader and will remain the number two."

But, according to his deputy, the chief minister will submit a revised list of portfolios to the Governor later on Sunday.