If the offer of resignation is an attempt to deflect attention, Ms. Patel’s offer will not do. Ms. Patel’s successor, who will be chosen by the BJP’s parliamentary board, will have the difficult task of stemming the slide in popularity before Gujarat goes to the polls in end-2017. Ms. Patel’s offer came a day after Ahmedabad saw a large protest by Dalits who threw their voice beyond the borders of the State. Patidars have been crucial to the BJP’s hold on Gujarat. Nobody is buying Anandiben Patel’s explanation that she offered to resign as Chief Minister of Gujarat on account of her looming 75th birthday.

Source: The Hindu August 02, 2016 21:00 UTC